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LAGAWE, Ifugao — Commuters and motorists were stranded in Barangay Tungod due to the collapse of a 37-meter Burnay Bridge (KO315+980) that connects Lagawe road section to Ibulao road section of Nueva Vizcaya-Ifugao-Mt. Province Boundary road at Barangay Tungod in Lagawe due to scouring of abutment “B” (Lagawe side).

Supporters and relatives who attended and who wanted to attend the burial rites of Representative Baguilat’s father were also stranded at both ends of the bridge.

Crew of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Ifugao First District Engineer Office (DEO) headed by District Engineer Eugene M. Batalao, with the assistance and supervision of Maintenance Chief Engineer Andres B. Dango, immediately closed traffic as of 12: 45 p.m. of September 27.

Batalao immediately reported the calamity incident to the DPWH regional office and coordinated with the Ifugao Provincial Government for quick response.

The DPWH, though, is working on the alternative way for the commuters to cross over. Motorists with light vehicles going to Nueva Vizcaya can pass via Ibulao-Kiangan-Munggayang-Cudog road as an alternative route.

Batalao is also looking forward for the possibility of making Tungod-Boliwong road as another way.

He said the support or the abutment of the bridge was washed out due to the massive volume of water from the river that causes the bridge’s fall.  He then promised to the Ifugao Provincial Government that a bailey bridge will be made within one month.

Engr. Andres B. Dango said they are hauling bailey panels for a construction of Bailey bridge from the right to sustain temporarily for the damaged bridge, while the Ifugao Provincial Engineering Office made a footbridge as an alternative way.

“Meanwhile, other DPWH maintenance crew, together with the Philippine National Police, assist commuters to slowly cross over to the collapsed bridge and we are doing our best in clearing series of slides at Pitawan along Hingyon-Banaue National Road and at Wangwang along Hungduan-Tinoc-Benguet Boundary road,” he said

Rep. Teodoro Baguilat Jr. ,who had his father’s burial rite at the time of the calamity, said: “We had been monitoring the work of DPWH in clearing the slide and making sure they fast-track putting up a temporary bridge. Meanwhile, we will lobby DPWH funds for new bridge.” (Contributed by Nora Pinkihan)