61 Percent

The DPWH has reported that the reconstruction of the bridge is now 61 percent.

GMA at the bridge

GMA was in Davao city for various engagements and found time to drop by the reconstruction of the bridge last Feb 27.

Here are "smoking'"photos posted at flicker.

Dull thud

Blogger Ric Vil Hori of the Davao Writers' Guild fears that the bridge would be a "dull thud."

He believes building bridges is better than building walls, but opines it does not have to be "drab or tasteless."

Faster construction

The DPWH has vowed that the construction of the new bridge would be "faster, stronger, better."

Materials are here

The materials for the reconstruction of the bridge have finally arrived in Davao from Manila.

It took the contractor more than two months since winning the bid to bring these vital materials such as steel casings to the city, thereby delaying unduly the rebuilding of the bridge.

Citizenspeak5

PIA Feature: Broken Bridge, Broken Promises

by Dabie Babao

Davao City (31 January) -- The warmth of humid air and the discomfort bothering a passenger inside a running jeepney is never-ending. Every morning these people are being delayed for their daily work because of the broken bridge months have passed.

It was during the early part of last year's election when the five-decade old Bankerohan Bridge (aka Gov. Generoso Bridge) collapsed. It has been reported that the budget for the damaged bridge is P206 million pesos. The bridge will be expected to be fixed hopefully this August 2008.

Junichi Dan Ross Miyake, a student studying in Ateneo de Davao University, said that the traffic every morning did worst for his schedule since it gave hassle things like waking up earlier in the morning and sometimes being forced to take a taxi for him not to be late for his class. As a student, taxi is not on the budget. His allowance is good for his meals and meriendas for school, not to mention the photocopies and other fees in school.

Jeepney drivers are also not happy with the government's promises since they cannot see any improvements or even actions of starting the bridge.

Not only that, the residents from Southern area are being inconvenienced by the traffic jams along McArthur Highway in Matina and Quirino avenues in the downtown area and at Quimpo Boulevard, near Sandawa and Bolton Bridge. forcing some motorists from the south to take the Diversion Road.

The question is who are to be blamed? When the bridge collapsed the government promised that within 8 months the bridge will be fixed. Now, could anyone in the city passing by the bridge ever saw development of it? The answer is none. No changes from the day it collapsed up to now.

From the different people, they are hoping for a development which is almost a year now. The bridge is a big help in the city because of the increasing numbers of vehicles. Their voices are needed to be heard. They even call our city as the most livable city but what happened here is, a crash. (ADDU/PIA)

No work

For the past four nights I had social engagements downtown and had to go home almost midnight to Matina.

On all four occasions, I noticed that there is no work at the Bankerohan Bridge.

So, whatever happened to the promised overtime and 24-hour work to rush the reconstruction of the destroyed bridge?

Last Wednesday, I sat in between Ateneo de Davao president Fr. Antonio Samson and George Sorio of Cyber City who hosted a lunch meeting of academicians to prepare more students for the expanding BPO industry.

In between bites of shrimps, nuts and broccolis, the Jesuit was almost "cursing" the delay of the bridge project. He repeated to me three times to call the attention of the President.

Hey, Madam President what's happening to our bridge project?!!

Inspection

JIMMY Romero (center), project inspector of Ciriaco Construction, Inc. studies the blueprint and how the construction of Generoso Bridge I along MacArthur Highway will be carried out. The construction of the bridge will start tomorrow, January 16, as stated in the contract. EDGAR ARRO/ Mindanao Times Jan 15

DPWH makes new promise

Here is the latest assurance from the DPWH - from its head no less - that the reconstruction of the Bankerohan bridge would be "completed early."

Here is the Manila Times report.

Neighbors concerned too

Davao City neighbors share Bankerohan bridge concern

by RG Alama

Davao City (16 January) -- Officials and leaders of different provinces here in Davao Region are also concerned about the ongoing progress of the Davao City's Bankerohan bridge.

The bridge which collapse in May last year has been bogged by delays and the construction of a new bridge to supersede the 50-year old structure is slated to commence this January 16 and is expected to be completed by August this year.

Davao City 2nd District Congressman Isidro Ungab, during in a media forum said that aside from local Davao City officials who were following up the progress of the construction bridge, Congressmen from Davao del Norte and Davao del Sur were also following up on the bridge's progress.

Congressman Ungab said that even if the bridge is located in the City's first district, the effects of a damaged infrastructure is felt not just by the other city districts but also by the City's neighbors as well particularly Davao del Sur.

The Department of Public Works and Highways Regional Office under Regional Director Engr. Jerome dela Rosa has informed the media last week of the release of a Notice to Proceed to Ciriaco Construction, the contractors of the P206-million project.

Engr. Dela Rosa said one of the delays in the bridge's construction was the rules and procedure of the Commission of Audit which the Department is mandated to follow.

Other delays include the lack of a berthing space for the contractor to unload their materials. The contractor would be utilizing a private pier in Sasa as a berthing area for their materials. (PIA)