Repair of hanging bridge to start soon
Antique Gov. Exequiel Javier yesterday said the repair of the hanging bridge in Brgy. Santiago, Laua-an town which collapsed, leaving four school children who fell down the river dead, will start soon.
The fifth child, who was also swept away by the strong current, is still missing.
Javier, during his visit to the wake of the four pupils, said its repair would be the priority of the provincial government.
“If we can have the materials purchased immediately, then by next week, we could start the construction,” he added.
The fund to be used for the repair will come from the province’s calamity fund.
The hanging bridge, which collapsed Wednesday last week, was a replacement of the one that was destroyed by Typhoon Frank in June 2008.
The governor was joined by his son, Antique Rep. Paolo Javier, during his visit to the families of the four victims and the kin of Riza Aretaño, the pupil who remained missing as of press time.
Meanwhile, Education Secretary Armin Luistro also visited the wake of the four pupils.
The DepEd also extended financial assistance to the kin of the fatalities.
“Nabalitaan ko nga lang ito sa news (I learned what happened from the news). I thought, it is important for me to come here. It is really a very sad situation,” he said.
In Laua-an, police chief Insp. John Michael Glorial said that search and retrieval operations continue to locate Aretaño.*
