PINUKPUK, Kalinga – The Department of Public Works and Highways–Lower Kalinga Engineering District Office (DPWH-LKDEO) disclosed that the contractor of the 100-meter Tappo footbridge heavily damaged by previous weather disturbances was completed even without the release of the programmed funds due to the prevailing public health crisis.
DPWH-LKDEO District Engineer Ruby Uyam said the completed project is scheduled for turnover to the Pinukpuk Municipal Government after the contractor completes the finishing touches that include painting works.
At present, she stated the footbridge is now being used by the residents living in the different sitios for the easy transport of their commodities from their farms to the market and their basic necessities.
Uyam claimed that in coordination with the barangay, the Pinukpuk municipal government and the contractor, the implementation of the project was pursued despite the non-release of the allotted funds.
The district engineer informed that the Tappo footbridge was totally damaged by Typhoon Lawin in 2016 and aggravated by the succeeding wrath of Typhoons Ompong and Rosita in 2018 and 2019, respectively.
The Tappo footbridge is located at sitio Tappo, Barangay Apatan, here where it links sitios Tappo and Bonnong in Barangay Apatan and Barangay Wagud in the municipality.
According to him, the project was initially funded with P1 million under the local 2019 infrastructure program of Rep. Mangaoang where the fund was programmed for the reconstruction of abutments or towers, deadman and provision of cables for the damaged footbridge that were all completed during the same year.
Uyam added that P1 million was proposed for its completion and was included in the listing of the local infrastructure program of Rep. Mangaoang this year.
However, she admitted this year’s allocation for the completion of the footbridge was programmed for later release, thus, the project was short of award to the winning contractor.
Uyam expressed his gratitude to the contractor for pursuing the implementation of the project despite the non-release of the programmed funds so that the footbridge will be used by the people, saying that there are only a few public works implementers who are willing to do such similar acts for the benefit of the people that stand to benefit from the project.
On his part, Mangaoang called on the residents living in the different communities benefitting from the project to value the importance of the footbridge and protect the same from whatever man-made calamity so that it can last its prescribed economic life pursuant to the standards of the public works department so that they will be able to easily transport their agricultural produce to the nearest market.
He said he will continue to make the appropriate representations with the public works department to ensure that the programmed funding for the project will be provided with the needed funds to pay the contractor who sacrificed to complete the project even without the funds earlier allotted for the project. By Hent