President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo led the inauguration rites. She was assisted by House Speaker Jose C. de Venecia, Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. and Lingayen Mayor Ernesto Castañeda.
Present were Second District Representative Amado Espino Jr., Pangasinan Governor Victor Agbayani, Vice Governor Oscar Lambino and Public Works Region 1 Director Fidel Ginez.
After the inauguration, Castañeda presented to the Arroyo a Municipal Council Resolution 189-2006 making her an adopted and favorite daughter of Lingayen.
The new bridge is 600.64-linear meter long composed of 18 spans. It is one kilometer in length including the approaches in both ends.
The Domalandan Bridge, which crosses over Limahong Channel was built in 1972 during the incumbency of then governor Aguedo Agbayani.
It incurred minor damage in 1996. Strong water current in the river caused by three strong typhoons in 1999 washed out three spans making the bridge totally impassable.
Ebdane, in his project briefing, said reconstruction work started in Jan. 29, 2001 and the original contract expiry date was April 24, 2002. The original project cost was P407,570,190.
Because of lack of funds, the project cost was revised several times due to the increase in the cost of materials.
The revised contract amount is P745,473,026.74. The 450 calendar-day contract duration was revised to 1,350 calendar days. The contract expiry date is March 8, 2007 but Ciriaco Corporation, the project contractor, finished it ahead of time.
The project was under the supervision the Bureau of Construction and DPWH Regional Office 1.
Agbayani said Saturday was a historic day for the people of Lingayen not only because they are celebrating the annual fiesta but most of all, the Domalandan bridge has opened again.
Espino, on the other hand, thanked the President for keeping her promise to finish the bridge in 2007.
The bridge connects eight western barangays of Lingayen to the town proper. It is also a major link from central Pangasinan to Western Pangasinan with travel time cut by at least 30 minutes.
In her speech, Arroyo thanked the officials of Lingayen for the resolution they passed. She said her mother, who is a native of Binalonan town, was actually born in Lingayen in 1915 where the hospital was located as there no hospital then in Binalonan.
She said the construction work started nine days after she became President on Jan. 20, 2001.
Arroyo reported that no loan was acquired for the bridge project.
Other government and congressional officials present in the bridge’s inauguration were Presidential chief of staff Michael Defensor, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, Third District Representative Generoso Tulagan and some mayors in Pangasinan. (Sunnex)
