Ruping and Sanko Elegance (Part 2 of 2)

The Mactan-Mandaue Bridge is under the Department of Public Works and Highways, so after I saw the dangerous situation it was in, with the huge Sanko Elegance ship stuck under it, two bottom chords severed already, I proceed to the DPWH Regional Office to report the matter to the regional director. At that time it was our old friend, Engr. Bashir Rasuman.

Director Bobby, as we fondly called him, acted quickly and went to the site. I rode with him and filled him in on the information, especially on the structural damage that can be visually evaluated --two bottom chords clearly cut, rendering the structure with a hinge portion instead of a truss, and the probability of failure if the ship will move and come out from beneath it. Bobby asked me if there was a danger of collapse and I told him I could not make an assessment without the proper structural analysis and I needed a computer for that. But even without it, I told him yes, such a possibility existed. This was the reason I told the captain not to move the ship yet without his clearance.

We were still approaching the Mandaue shoreline when we heard a loud screeching sound! The ship was reversing and moving out from underneath the bridge! Many of us are familiar with this screeching sound --metal against metal-- but this was the first time I heard something as loud and booming as this, a huge ocean-going ship scratching metal with a huge steel bridge. We had to cover our ears. Fortunately, the bridge held and did not fall into the sea. We watched helplessly as the ship slowly disengaged and left the area.

Director Rasuman asked me for my recommendations, and I suggested closing the bridge first to all traffic, vehicular and people. I added, only until such time that the DPWH can make a proper inspection and analysis on its structural integrity. He also asked if we could do an initial analysis and I told him I would go and consult Engr. Pedro Adonis Compendio, Governor Lito Osmeña’s consultant at the Capitol. The problem really was that there was no power in Cebu that day and even for the days to come. For fast structural analyses, we needed to run our computer programs. We eventually did in a couple of days, sometimes working at the ground floor of Rajah Hotel, which was the first one to run a generator that time.

The Sanko Elegance incident damaging the Mactan-Mandaue Bridge during typhoon Ruping was a significant instance in Cebu’s history. It did not just affect Mactan residents, but it also affected the operations of the airport, Because of the bridge’s closure for about two months, the Japanese government hurriedly approved technical assistance to study the construction of a second bridge crossing the Mactan Channel. Eventually, Governor Lito got a settlement from Sanko Elegance, of course, around P27 million if I’m not mistaken, which was used to build the Mandaue and Tabunok flyovers. But the greatest benefit from this otherwise bad incident was the realization of the second bridge, now called the Marcelo Fernan Bridge. That’s what Ruping brought to Cebu.