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| DPWH Eastern Visayas eyes for immediate repair of Marabong Bridge in Burauen, Leyte, after it was destroyed during the onslaught of Tropical Storm Paeng. Photo: DPWH-8 |
The temporary restoration of the Marabong Bridge in Brgy. Moguing, Burauen, Leyte is undergoing cost estimation, according to Edgar B. Tabacon, Regional Director, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Eastern Visayas, during his on-site inspection today, October 30, 2022.
Regional Director Tabacon ordered the Leyte 2nd District Engineering Office (DEO) Maintenance section to quickly estimate the bridge's temporary repair cost. According to a directive from DPWH Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan, immediate mitigation measures must be taken to make the bridge passable.
DPWH 8 will then request a Quick Response Fund (QRF) from the Department so that the public can utilize the bridge as soon as possible.
"Immediate repair of the Marabong bridge is our number one priority. This bridge brings convenience to the people, especially that going to La Paz is just 20-minutes away. This is why we need to make sure that this bridge becomes open to traffic at the soonest time", said RD Tabacon.
During the inspection, DPWH 8 identified options for making the bridge temporarily passable, such as a bridge over the bridge or jacking of girders to restore the bridge's original alignment and provide mitigating structures such as gabions mattress around the piers.
At the onslaught of severe tropical storm "Paeng" on October 28, 2022, the Marabong Bridge, part of the Jaro-Dagami-Burauen-La Paz road, was damaged when the foundations of Piers 3 and 4 were eroded, causing settlement or bridge collapse.
As of October 30, 2022, the Marabong Bridge will be closed to traffic. Motorists traveling from Burauen, Leyte to La Paz, Leyte should take the Burauen-Julita-Dulag-Mayorga-La Paz road, and vice versa.
RD Tabacon guarantees that the funding request will be submitted immediately, hoping that temporary restoration can be implemented within the following weeks.
DPWH Regional Office 8 Chief of Maintenance Division Engineer Lucas N. Bacsal, Chief of Inspectorate Section Engineer Toribio R. Odtuhan, and DPWH Leyte 2nd DEO District Maintenance Engineer Michael Cabangisan are also present during the on-site inspection.