DPWH-Manila, ARMM address problem of Tunggol bridge

COTABATO CITY (Sept.
4/NDBC) -- Officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and the
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) are finding solutions to a
critical bridge that connects the region to Davao.

The Tunggol
Brigade in Datu Montawal, Maguindanao is being threatened by rampaging waters
from Malitubog-Maridagao rivers after four days of heavy to moderate rain.

The rains inundated at least 11 towns in Maguindanao and nearby provinces affecting more than 25,000 persons.Commuters could easily view the rampaging waters eating up portions of the approached of the bridge.Maguindanao
Gov. Mangudadatu is worried once the bridge collapse, the province will
collapse as well.

There will be
a major retrogression in our economy if the bridge is swept away by
floodwaters. The rainy days keep coming back,” Mangudadatu on Wednesday said in
a meeting in Cotabato City with senior ARMM officials.

Assistant
Secretary Dimas Soguilon of the central office of DPWH was also present in the
meeting.

The condition
of the vital bridge was lengthily discussed by ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman,
DPWH-ARMM regional secretary Emil Sadain and Asec. Soguilon.

Both Soguilon
and Sadain have assured ARMM officials and the public they will do their best
to avert the destruction of the bridge.

The meeting,
held at the Office of the Regional Governor in Cotabato City, was aimed at
discussing updates on the implementation of major, multi-million projects of
the national government in the autonomous region.

Also discussed
during the meeting were the threat faced by other government structures like
bridges and public schools due to recurring floods.

Mangudadatu
said security is no longer an issue in fixing the bridge unlike in previous
years when engineering workers are threatened by armed groups.

In the
meeting, Hataman reprimanded the representatives of two construction firms
involved in the concreting of stretches of the Lake Lanao circumferential road
in Lanao del Sur due to very low accomplishment ratings, far from projections
stated in programs of work.

The CAVDEAL
and WTC construction outfits started the concreting projects last year, but
accomplished only 29 and 22 percent of the concreting works, respectively.

Officials of
two firms cited security problems” as the reason for the delays in the
concreting works.

These are
projects of the national government. These two construction companies will be
answerable to Malacañang and the people of Lanao del Sur if these projects are
not completed by February 2015,” Hataman said later told reporters.

Lanao del Sur
Gov. Mamintal Adiong, Jr. said the justifications of the two construction firms
were exaggerated.

What is worst,
according to Adiong, the contractors listens to gossips” about threats on the
lives of workers involved in the concreting works.

My office,
along with the provincial police, is always open for dialogues with these
contractors. We are here to help,” Adiong said. (NDBC)