Danger lurks in the Pisak Bridge approaches!

By NINFA B. QUIRANTE (PIA Samar)
January 5, 2006

CATBALOGAN, Samar  –  This was the fear echoed by the Department of Public Works and Higways (DPWH) District Engineer Pablo Aragon when he learned from PIA that all sorts of vehicles still pass the Wright-Taft Road. The road has been declared impassable to heavy vehicles.

In an interview, Aragon said that the pavement in the Pisak Road approaches has collapsed. Passing through the 40-50 meter stretch is deemed dangerous, he said because of continuous erosion. This pavement is between a high mountain and a deep embankment on the other side. Soil erosion continues due to heavy rains.

Aragon added that the regional office has declared a travel advisory closing the road to vehicular traffic, but due to the exigency of the situation, they have remedied the situation by an improvised passage on the shoulder only for light vehicles. Heavy vehicles have been advised to take the other route – the Basey-Lawaan coastal road. PUJs and PUBs meanwhile have been allowed as long as they unload their passengers first, when passing the perilous site. Traveling too at night has been disallowed.

The repeated warnings though have been unheeded. PIA has personally witnessed that all sorts of vehicles pass that way, without necessarily unloading their passengers in the area.

When PUB and PUJ operators were asked why they insist to pass the dangerous site, an operator of a PUB the Boronga-Catbalogan road said that the alternative route doubles the travel time and gas consumption, making a huge dent in their operation expenses. Eaglestar transport company (Manila bound bus for Eastern Samar) has also been seen to have resumed passing the usual route.

Meanwhile, Aragon said that his office has passed recommendations for road restoration that could cost as much as 10Million pesos. Other plans include cutting the mountain or cutting down below, and constructing walls or structures to contain the soil. These, he said have reached the hands 'above. He just hopes, he said that with the reported damage in infrastructure of 60 million pesos in the region, people on top will heed the urgent need to repair the damaged pavement.

He also said that he has called the attention of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) and the congressman concerned.

Meanwhile, he reiterates: Danger still lurks in the Pisak Bridge!