Wednesday, April 02, 2008 Ship owner pays P.5M bond
THE owner of the vessel that hit the Marcelo B. Fernan Bridge last March 10 gave a cash bond of P500,000 to the Mactan-Cebu Bridge Management Board (MCBMB) last March 25.
It will cover the actual damage and other incidental and miscellaneous damage to the bridge, said Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 7 legal officer Augustinito Hermoso.
Last week, DPWH 7 reported there was minimal damage.
DPWH 7 Assistant Director Marlene Alviso said the inspection team found some superficial cracks, measuring up to 0.30 millimeter. Repairs, which are in the process of wrapping up, were estimated to cost P100,000.
Hermoso, though, clarified that accurate estimates cannot be done as of the moment because there are incidental expenses, or the costs incurred by other agencies in finding out the extent of the damage.
There are also underwater footage that need to be assessed by Katahira Construction, designer of the eight-year-old bridge.
“The underwater footage would have to be sent to Katahira for them to interpret but we are confident that no major structural damage was done that can be attributed to the ramming incident,” said Hermoso.
Compromise
Katahira was the same company that inspected the bridge last March 20 to determine if the ramming seriously damaged the bridge.
But even with the cash bond from Sea-Tech Transport Inc., which owns the vessel Mt. Damar, Hermoso said there is still the possibility of taking the matter to court.
Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, who chairs the MCBMB, also wants the operator to pay for exemplary damages, which can only be determined by the courts.
Hermoso, though, said that Sea-Tech is willing to reach a compromise.
“There is that possibility but I believe that the position of the owner of the vessel is that they are willing to compromise... Maybe they will pay for all the expenses incurred,” he told reporters after the regular MCBMB meeting yesterday.
The initial evaluation of Katahira, according to DPWH 7, is that the foundation of Marcelo B. Fernan bridge remains “structurally sound.”
Hermoso explained that there were “small cuts, ordinary wear and tear” of the bridge that were absorbed by its rubber fender.
Garcia also suggested that a rubber fender be placed on the first bridge for protection. (JGA)
