PH highest bridge in danger of collapsing

Wikipedia Photo

MANILA — Agas-agas, the country’s highest bridge, standing at 84 meters in Sogod, Southern Leyte, is in danger of collapsing.

For the past 12 months, heavy rains in Eastern Visayas area have caused landslide eventually resulting to erosion of the protective coves of the 350-meter-long bridge.

“The scouring that occurred were only about 10 meters apart from both bridge piers,” said a recent report of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) head office in Manila.

The agency also noted that “previous preventive measures applied on the structure, such as gabion flood controls and drainage canals, have also been washed out.”

It cited reports from the DPWH office in Region 8 adding that the current conditions could seriously ruin the structure’s foundation, according to Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson.

Because of this, the department has set aside P46,63 million for the plan and program of work designed to prevent the complete damage of the bridge.

A public bidding for the project has also been scheduled by the department early tis month in Maasin City, the capital of Southern Leyte.

The structure was built by the Arroyo administration from Nov. 17, 2006, to Aug. 2, 2009, with a P1.24-billion funding from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica).