At last, a bridge will rise in Songsongon
Families and relatives of victims in the Igbaras
tragedy as well as fellow Igbarasnons attend the
holy mass officiated by Fr. Francisco Nicolasora,
the town's parish priest, near the Songsongan
overflow last Friday.
A.Chris Fernandez photo
It took the biggest tragedy in Igbaras to happen for the government to realize the need to have a bridge in Songsongon, Barasan.
Governor Niel Tupas last week confirmed that the building of a bridge in Songsongon, the site where a passenger jeepney was carried away by raging waters last week killing 22 persons with 19 others missing, has been included in the priority list of President Arroyo's Presidential Bridge Program.
Tupas endorsed the resolution unanimously approved by the Sangguniang Bayan of Igbaras addressed to the national government for the construction of the said bridge.
Provincial Administrator Manuel 'Boy' Mejorada personally delivered the said resolution to Executive Director Emil Sadahin of the Presidential Bridge Program under the Office of the President.
The palace promptly replied in affirmative and was included as a priority project.
Tupas said a bridge similar to the existing Ligtus bridge, just before Songsongon, about 80 meters in length will be constructed in the area to replace the present overflow bridge which is dangerous especially when river water swells.
He said, the bridge can easily be constructed since it is made of pre-fab materials but of lasting and durable quality.
Funding for the bridge project would come from a full grant from the government of United Kingdom, said Tupas.
The Songsongon river crossing, presently connected with an overflow bridge, is the only link between the lowland and 11 other upland barangays of Igbaras.
Stories from locals tell of previous deaths in the area due to raging water current but normally ignored by local officials.
Strong clamor for the construction of a bridge in the area was also raised by Fr. Francisco Nicolasora, parish priest of Igbaras, during the holy mass for the victims of the tragedy held in Songsongon last Friday.
(With Nelson C. Robles)