Celso orders swift repair of Taluksangay bridge
Mayor Celso Lobregat has instructed the City Engineer’s Office to immediately restore and construct a new bridge in sitio Tawi-tawi in Taluksangay that collapsed on New Year’s Eve due to overloading.
Lobregat at the same time ordered City Social Welfare Officer Francisco Barredo to closely monitor the injured and provide free medical assistance and free confinement in the hospital.
The mayor early morning of January 1st motored to Taluksangay to personally check the destruction wrought by the tragic accident that killed two people and injured 6 others. He brought along City Engineer Luis Despalo, City Health Officer Rodel Agbulos, Barredo and other department heads concerned.
The tragedy occurred shortly before midnight December 31, as some 20 to 30 people flocked the wooden hanging bridge to view the fireworks display being held in the downtown area. With a capacity of only 8 persons, the hanging bridge gave way, causing the freak accident.
The city government, on orders of Lobregat provided the immediate financial and relief assistance to the victims including the free burial of the dead.
The dead were identified as Nurwina Jularci, 16 and Hassan Asnalun, 20 years old. The injured were Ibnal Barra, 18; Anas Asnalon, 26; Arnold Asnalon, 24; Ambri Halilula, 16; Alyaser Alim, 16 and Elias Romon,16. Three are still confined at the Zamboanga City Medical Center for the treatment of their injuries.
The city government assistance to both the injured and the relatives of the dead included cash aid, rice, assorted noodles and mineral water.
The mayor stressed that the hanging bridge should be restored the soonest possible time as it is the only facility that allows the transport of goods and services from the mainland to sitio Tawi-tawi in Taluksangay.
The hanging bridge was constructed in 1992 and underwent minor repair in 2004.
Overloading was the main cause of the accident, authorities stressed. (Sheila Covarrubias)