MCWD Asks 1st Mandaue-Mactan Bridge Contractor to do Pipeline

The Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) has asked Jegma Construction, contractor of the PHP129-million repair of the first Mandaue-Mactan bridge to accept the job to strengthen its 400-meter water pipeline, which will be affected by the bridge’s on-going rehabilitation.

Lawyer Jorge Cabriente, MCWD assistant general manager for technical services, said the MCWD will meet officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 7 and Jegma Construction to discuss their second proposal.

The first proposal, which suggested the use of stainless steel to strengthen the support of the pipeline, was rejected by both Jegma and DPWH.

Jegma said they have no expertise on stainless steel works.

Earlier, DPWH 7 Director Ador Canlas said the MCWD must strengthen its support.

Otherwise, the pipeline will be in danger of collapsing once the deck slabs of the bridge will be demolished.

The water pipeline hangs under the sidewalk of the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge.

Gabriente said they don’t want it to happen because MCWD is supplying around 12,000 cubic meters of water to Lapu-Lapu City and Cordova town with around 17,000 water connections, domestic and commercial.

He said their second proposal will use steel dipped in hot galvanized iron instead of stainless steel. (PNA) LAP/EB/EDS