Camaligan floating resto, hanging bridge damaged

FLOATING RESTAURANT NO MORE. Philippine Coast Guard personnel inspect the capsized MB Camaligan.

CAMALIGAN, Camarines Sur --- The floating restaurant and newly completed hanging bridge here were damaged by Typhoon “Rolly,” the municipal tourism office said.

MB Camaligan, the official name of the floating restaurant sunk while the hanging bridge was twisted by the destructive winds at the height of the typhoon.

Lawyer Lea Valeriano-Cea, Camaligan tourism officer, said that the P1.5-million floating restaurant capsized at around 10:30 AM on Sunday, Nov. 1.

She narrated that before “Rolly” hit the province, MB Camaligan was brought and docked in a creek in Barangay Dugcal. It was tied together with small boats to a coconut tree. The floating restaurant was manned by four boat personnel.

Cea said that due to the strong winds, the coconut tree was uprooted causing the vessel to sink.

She said three of the boat personnel were able to swim to safety, but Dominic John Carillo, 29, a fisherman from Barangay San Mateo drowned and was found dead.

She said the local government decided to chop off MB Camaligan and re-assemble it rather than refloating it, which is risky.

Meanwhile, Engr. Fernando Eduardo, Camaligan municipal engineer, told Bicol Mail that Gov. Migz Villafuerte and his father Rep. LRay Villafuerte promised to provide the materials needed in repair of the hanging bridge.

He said the typhoon cut the steel wires supporting the bridge, which connect Sto. Domingo and San Francisco villages on both sides of the Bicol River.

The hanging bridge was constructed in the amount of P 2.5 million.