President Marcos wants to know if the F. Manalo Bridge, which was hit by 13 barges and boats amid the intense rains and flooding brought by the southwest monsoon and Typhoon Carina, can be passable.
Several barges and boats drift along Marikina River and crash into the F. Manalo Bridge in Pasig City amid the onslaught of Typhoon Carina. (RTVM screenshot)
He instructed the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to assess the safety of the bridge. Several barges and boats remain stuck under the bridge, and are currently the target of a removal mission by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
“Can we get an assessment on the safety kung magamit ‘yung tulay (Can we get an assessment on the safety if the bridge can be used)? What we need to know is not what is required but can we use it or not. Iyan na lang muna kung magamit o hindi (That’s the first thing—if it can be used or not),” he said during a situation briefing on Thursday, July 25.
“Oh God, ang lakas ng agos oh. Kahit anong gawin mo diyan, tug boat saka barge hindi mo makukuha ‘yan (Oh God, the current is too strong. Whatever you do there. Tug boat and barges, you cannot get those),” he added, upon watching the video of the barges hitting the bridge.
Marcos further stressed the need “to know where is that assistance is required” to be able “to distribute whatever help, whatever assistance is required.”
According to MMDA Chairman Romando Artes, some 13 barges and tug boats collided with the bridge, which goes over Marikina River and connects Eulogio Amang Rodriguez Avenue in Pasig and Calle Industria in Quezon City.
He added that the PCG “is working on it” to remove the barges that are owned by a construction company rehabilitating the Marikina River. The F. Manalo Bridge is temporarily closed.
The official gave the President an explanation of why the barges and tug boats hit the bridge as soon as the river’s water level and current increased.
“Mababa po iyong tulay. It was constructed by the LGU po kasi and it was schedule naman po for replacement by DPWH (The bridge is low. It was constructed by the LGU and it was scheduled for replacement by the DPWH),” Artes added.
DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan told the President that the bridge is due for rehabilitation or reconstruction.
“Because mababa sa standard niya. Masyado mababa and ‘yung free board niya (it is low for its standard. It is too low and its free board) is not really designed for the barges to pass through,” he said.
“We are going to reconstruct this bridge eventually. We have the funds for it. It’s just a matter of going through the design,” the official added.