DPWH Pushes “No Homes Under the Bridge”

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Rogelio Singson calls on the local government units (LGUs) in ensuring the protection of infrastructure facilities.

Singson said in a statement that LGUs specifically the barangays are in the position to call the attention of its residents, including the informal families living under bridges and on esteros.

Just recently, a fire broke out at Quiapo area involving shanties living under the Quezon Bridge forcing DPWH to limit the passing of vehicles to up to 10 tons only as safety precaution.

Following Singson’s instruction to immediately conduct inspection on Quezon Bridge which was exposed to fire, it was noted by bridge experts from Bureau of Design of Manila that there were deformation/buckling on steel members located at three end bays of the steel truss.

The DPWH-NCR is now preparing program of work to facilitate the repair of damaged bridge component.

Meanwhile, DPWH Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Engineering Office (CDO-SDEO) recently facilitated the clearing operation of informal settler families (ISFs) under Marcos Bridge, the biggest and busiest bridge in Cagayan de Oro City.

For the long time, shanties below Marcos Bridge have poised threats and inconvenience on both the safety of the motorists crossing above and the illegal settlers living under it.

The bridge served as a nest to illegal settlers that have long used its bottom part for residential and commercial purposes, leading to activities like cooking and usage of the bridge’s area as an integral part of their establishments.

“To allow full utilization of the bridge, all or a total of 64 illegal settlers, with their stalls were removed,” said CDO-SDEO OIC-District Engineer Anastacio G. Marundan.

Marundan noted that the clearing operation went smoothly, with proper notices and warnings facilitated ISF’s voluntary demolition and evacuation from the vicinity.

“The next step is to clean the area, repaint and beautify it as our contribution to the city’s campaign for orderliness, cleanliness and beautification” added Marundan.

In Cebu, DPWH officials are now surveying various bridges in the province and advised all concerned LGUs to submit report to DPWH office any finding of house structures under its bridge.

Image Credit: globalbalita.com