THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said that heavy vehicles coming from Porac and other western towns would need to take alternate routes along the Jose Abad Santos Avenue (Jasa) and the Subic-Clark-Tarlax Expressway (SCTEx) as the Mancatian Bridge in Porac town is underpoing repairs.

The DPWH announced last week that the Mancatian Bridge will be closed to traffic starting Monday, March 18. The bridge will undergo repairs to regain its structural integrity.

As repairs are carried out, heavy vehicles will not allowed to pass through the bridge that connects western towns like Santa Rita, Porac, and Floridablanca to Metro Angeles area. Light vehicles, however, are allowed to pass through the bridge.

Mayor Condralito dela Cruz in August last year announced that some P360 million has been allocated for the repair and the construction of protective engineering on the Mancatian Bridge here to soften the regular flow of lahar from the Porac-Zambales area.

This came as rains from habagat in 2018 damaged portions of the protective embankments as well as part of the foundation of the Mancatian Bridge. The lahar that the waters had brought down through the Pasig-Potrero River had been strong enough to cause damage.

Dela Cruz said that the DPWH already sent heavy equipment in the area to start initial re-channeling of the water flow. He added that protecting the bridge is vital in keeping the eastern barangays connected with the rest of the town.