MCWD offers new material to hasten repair of bridge

CEBU, Philippines - To help expedite repairs of the Mactan-Mandaue Bridge, the Metropolitan Cebu Water District has proposed the use steel dipped in hot galvanized iron to replace pipeline support, which contactor JEGMA Construction and Development Corp. found “acceptable” yesterday.

After a closed-door conference with the JDC and Department of Public Works and Highways-7 representatives, MCWD General Manager Noel Dalena  said their discussion went well.

“So far, ang discussion ganina (is) positive. At first, we proposed to use stainless steel. Pero karon, nag-propose na mi og lain, which is acceptable to them and dali ra trabahuon. So okay na,” he said.

DPWH-7 Director Ador Canlas, though, said the final decision to use steel dipped in hot galvanized iron is yet to be determined this Friday.

 “We sort of came in to agreement on what supposed to be addressed there that will now form part of their submission to us, which they have committed to submit until Friday,” he told reporters.

He said no formal submission has been set yesterday and that they only discussed different aspects of MCWD‘s proposal to support existing pipelines under the sidewalks of the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge.

MCWD recently sent JCDC its first proposal, which is the use of stainless steel to replace its pipelines support, but the contractor disagreed.

The repairs that the MCWD will do, according to Canlas, generally involves additional support to the pipelines and restore the areas with exposed steel bars under the bridge.

“Right now, what I could tell you is they have agreed to submit their designs to us and base on that, we will come up with a decision whether or not they will be acceptable dun sa standards natin,” Canlas said.

He said DPWH design engineers will evaluate MCWD’s proposal and in the meantime DPWH and JCDC will focus on areas that are “workable” without touching the water pipes.

Asked if it there would be more postponements, Canlas said the project has been already delayed already since August.

“Of course, we’ve been delayed on the project implementation but we’re looking on the concerns of other stakeholders so that we could minimize the effect. We’re trying to work out with a scheme we could catch up with. And hopefully, if all else is okay, then we‘ll advise all of the stakeholders,” he said.

The implementation of the bridge project got delayed due to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation held in Cebu August last year, followed by the Sinulog and the International Eucharistic Congress last month. — (FREEMAN)