Tuesday, July 10, 2007 April 2008, new target for Bankerohan bridge By Ben O. Tesiorna
THE completion date of the new Bankerohan Bridge was moved from December of this year to April 2008.
This is because President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered for the construction of a concrete bridge rather than a steel bridge that was earlier proposed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and a concrete bridge will take longer to construct.
DPWH Regional Director Dimas Soguilon said they will start the construction proper of the new bridge by August of this year and expects to complete it by last week of April next year.
Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said the decision to have a concrete bridge rather than a steel bridge in Bankerohan was due to the prodding of Presidential Assistant for Southern Mindanao Madeline Dizon Marfori.
Considering that Davao City is a prime destination here in Mindanao, Duterte said a concrete bridge would look better than a steel bridge, especially because there is an existing concrete bridge beside it.
Moreover, the DPWH is keen on finishing the bridge in as short a time as possible especially since it is considered one of the city's main links.
Soguilon asserted they have already finished the new design of the bridge to be erected and will be submitting it to the DPWH main office in Manila for the necessary funds to be immediately released and work to begin soon.
Soguilon said no money has been wasted with the recent flip-flopping of decisions on the kind of bridge to be constructed. He said the initial materials that arrived were intended for the steel bridge; however, as the design was changed into a concrete one, the materials will then be used for other steel bridges in the region.
