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| BLESSING AND INAUGURATION: Public Works and Highway Sec. Rogelio L. Singson together with Reg. Dir. Edilberto Tayao of DPWH-VI, Governor Vic Tanco, Mayor Jose Esteban Contreras and some local officials grace the blessing and inauguration of the newly-build "Agbalo Brige" in the Municipality of Pontevedra, April 14. |
ROXAS City – The P215-million new Agbalo bridge in Pontevedra, Capiz is now open for public use, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said.
The 92.85-linear meter bridge with 7.32 meters carriageway width serves as a replacement to an almost century-old Agbalo bridge along Iloilo East Coast-Capiz Road.
The newly constructed Agbalo bridge aims to improve accessibility and mobility by providing a better and safer transport system thus contributing to the economic growth of the province of Capiz.
Agbalo bridge serves as a road to about 7,700 motorists and connects the provinces of Aklan, Capiz and Iloilo.
It also serves as an alternate route to the high-density highway system, which allows access to Culasi Port in Roxas City, Capiz and Culasi Port in Ajuy, Iloilo.
“The completion of the new Agbalo bridge is part of the department’s priorities to replace old and deteriorated bridges along arterial and secondary roads nationwide, especially those whose structural stability has weakened, posing great danger to motorists,” said DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson.
Singson also stressed that it is part of the agency’s target to “make temporary national bridges 100 percent permanent by 2016.”
DPWH, however, clarified that the old Agbalo bridge will not be demolished to preserve its historical value and as requested by the local government of Pontevedra.
The old bridge is in fact being considered for major strengthening to cope with the future plan of widening the Iloilo East Coast-Capiz Road. (With a report from the Philippine News Agency/PN)
