Philippine Information Agency
                                                                                                                  Press Release 2009//09/16
 

Residents hail Padada Bridge opening

by RG Alama

Davao City (16 September) -- Bringing ease and convenience to commuters, lowering transport cost for goods and giving employment opportunities to residents.

These are among the many reasons, commuters and residents alike have hailed the opening of the long-delayed Padada bridge reconstruction project. The opening last Sept. 15 was highlighted by a ceremonial drive-through with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo accompanied by Davao del Sur Governor Douglas Cagas and Department of Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Bashir Rasuman.

Victoriano Labis, a resident of Hagonoy and one of those employed as masons by Grace Construction- the project contractor, thanked the President for the project saying that it has given him a job. He said that aside from this bridge project, Grace Construction has also included him in one of their projects.

While Grace Indino, a volunteer worker residing in Hagonoy, profusely thanked the President during her brief interaction with the residents. Indino, said that it cut the travel time and cost in traversing the other side of the Padada River.

Before the bridge was opened, commuters had to take a circuitous 6.5 kilometer route using the bypass road. Normally when the Padada bridge was still usable, passengers had to pay P10 going to normal destinations, with the bypass route commuters had to shell out P20.

According to Barangay Guihing Captain Reuel Raut, the economy declined when the Padada Bridge was made impassable due to the reconstruction and the three long years it took before its completion.

"There was an increase in the cost of transporting goods, many businessmen complained," Raut said.

Among the main products of Padada and Hagonoy include sugar and Cavendish bananas. The Padada bridge was the major artery in the transport of these goods either to Digos City or General Santos.

"When it was opened (the bridge) we were so overjoyed," Raut added.

Department of Public Works and Highways Region XI director Osop Ali said that the bypass route with a distance of about 7 kilometers had been cut to only 90 meters with the opening of the two-lane, 90-meter span bridge. At a cost of P227-million the project included the main bridge, the all-weather bypass road and the 20-meter span bypass bridge.