PILI, Camarines Sur—Traffic congestion has resumed along the Pili Diversion Road here after holes and cracks were discovered in the middle of the 65-meter San Jose Bridge.
Barely two years after then-President Benigno Aquino III inspected the completed four-lane San Jose Bridge that followed the inauguration of the widened Pili Diversion road that connected vehicles from Manila, the Bicol Region and the Visayas via the roll-on, roll-off transport system in Matnog, Sorsogon, the bridge showed signs of disrepair.
The expansion of the San Jose Bridge began in July 2014 and was completed on July 10, 2015 at a cost of P85 million, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways records.
But DPWH regional executive assistant lawyer Felix Brazil said the flow of traffic in the area continues since the middle two lanes with holes and cracks were closed and covered with steel plates before undergoing repairs.
Camarines Sur is the heart of the Bicol Region and its biggest and most developed province, which is now preparing for next month’s Peñafrancia celebration that usually draws millions of visitors to the area.
The Pili municipal council, in a resolution, slammed the deterioration of the bridge, saying the situation “has restored the horrible traffic suffering of motorists when the bridge was still undergoing expansion.”
Councilor John Apollo Manaog, chair of the committee on infrastructure, said they are waiting for the investigation report from the DPWH regional office in Legazpi about allegations that the San Jose Bridge was built substandard by the Camarines Sur 2nd District Engineering Office under contract with Camarines Sur-based NFH Construction and Supply.
District engineer Rebecca Roces could not be contacted for comment at press time. The assistant district engineer, Juan Ragrario, told local media that substandard work for the San Jose bridge “cannot yet be considered” citing records that said steel bars used and the works specifications were within its program of works.
Councilor Manaog said the defects in the bridge were uncovered during the third week of July and was getting worse, endangering motorists.
The DPWH engineer said they had already demanded action from the contractor, adding the bridge is still within the warranty period, which NFH Construction and Supply is responsible to attend firstly for the solution of the bridge problem “without a cost from the government.”
DPWH Region V spokesperson Lucy Castaneda said that based on the initial findings, the department would undertake major repairs of the bridge, but this would be implemented after the Penafrancia celebration from Sept. 15 to 19.