New footbridge along Jasa to be guarded

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The new footbridge along the midsection of Jose Abad Santos Avenue (Jasa) in Barangay Dolores here will closely be watched and guarded to safeguard its integrity and prevent unscrupulous parties from using it other than the purpose it was constructed for, officials said.

The world-class P19-million footbridge was formally opened Tuesday by Undersecretary Rafael Yabut and Regional Director Antonio Molano Jr. of the Department of Public Works and Highways, Mayor Oscar Rodriguez, Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. chairman emeritus Levy P. Laus and president Jim Jimenez, volunteer Engr. Marni Castro, City Administrator Ferdinand Caylao and other sectoral officials.

PAMPANGA. City of San Fernando Mayor Oscar Rodriguez and Public Works Undersecretary Rafael Yabut lead the blessing and inauguration of the P19-million footbridge along Jose Abad Santos Avenue, City of San Fernando on Monday. (Chris Navarro)

"This new world-class footbridge which I was told is the first of its kind in the country, will be guarded by our people 24 hours a day to ensure the safety of pedestrians using it, specially students of nearby schools located in this avenue. Vendors will be prohibited from using it to sell their wares, streamers of any kind will not be allowed to be installed, huhulihin ang sino mang magtangkang mag-urinate dito at strictly, bawal umistambay sa footbridge na ito," Rodriguez said.

Caylao added that to ensure pedestrians will use the overpass, the City Government and the DPWH will construct a wire mesh fence in the middle island of the avenue: "We will also strictly enforce the no jaywalking law and post personnel who will assist pedestrians especially those with handicaps."

Traffic management head Pines Pineda said said that passenger jeeps and buses, tricycles, pedicabs and other vehicles will not be permitted to park on both sides of the footbridge, or use the endpoints as terminals.

"It will just be a pick and drop point for them and we will apprehend those who will violate that rule," Pineda told Sun.Star Pampanga.

The private sector largely hailed the pedestrian overpass, which Molano said took a while to complete because of some problems encountered during its constructed like the relocation of water pipelines and high voltage electric cables.

"We are happy about its completion and it being world-class, befitting much of structures here in Jasa. Another one of this kind will also be constructed in the vicinity of BPI and Carworld. We agree that these footbridges are good safety measures," said Laus.

The most thankful, however, are the students from St. Nicolas College, STI and workers coming from both sides of the avenue.

"Noon po ay takot na takot kaming tumawid sa daan na ito. Nguni't kami ay humiling at kami ay napagbigyan. We thank all the officials and people who worked for the provision of the footbridge. Now, we feel safer every day," said Melanie Briones, St. Nicolas College student council head.