5 isolated Mayon villages finally get access bridge

By Manuel T. Ugalde

LEGAZPI CITY --- At last, the five villages at the foot side of Mayon Volcano have finally gotten a four-lane steel-made access bridge, but not without encountering of at least 3 botched access bridges for decades, citing corruption scandal.

The thousands of residents of the five barangays – Binitayan, Kilikao, Malobago, Alcala and Matnog have to comfort themselves crossing the 70-meter Yawa Spillway to Daraga población during extreme Mayon eruption that often prevent government efforts to evacuate residents whenever the river is submerged by floods.

Residents claimed the Kilikao-Binitayan spillway is flooded even during heavy rainfall.

According to Kilikao resident retired banker Nicanor Bueno, two other bridges built by the Department of Public Works, however, did not serve its purpose, with the first two-lane concrete bridge built during the Arroyo administration abandoned by the contractor after a barely 20 percent accomplishment equivalent to one span of the 70-meter projected concrete bridge. DPWH records showed the botched concrete bridge project had a budget of P110 million. The record stated the botched P110 million Kilikao-Binitayan two-lane concrete bridge was part of the P10 billion calamity funds for Bicol following Typhoon Reming in November 2006 worked out by Bicolano Senator Joker Arroyo, under President Arroyo administration.

Department of Public Works and Highways Region 5 director Virgilio Eduarte said the four-lane steel-bridge components for the Binitayan-Kilikao bridge construction fabricated in China has recently arrived and due for installation adding would serve as a permanent access bridge for the five isolated barangays. He said the funds was under the 2024 General Appropriation Act worked out by Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda.

Asked about the controversy surrounding the P250 million Kilikao-Binitayan Steel bridge budget as extremely bloated, Eduarte said the quality of the bridge components fabricated in China, justified the cost, citing the erratic Yawa River whenever bombarded by floods cascading from Mayon volcano gulleys.

Eduarte disclosed the Binitayan -Kilikao bridge is being undertaken by the Albay 2nd District Engineering Office under district engineer Warren Azotea.

Contacted for comment, Salceda refused to elaborate about the P250 million Binitayan-Kilikao steel bridge saying he may be accused of politicking, citing election campaign period. Salceda is running for governor. Nevertheless, the Binitayan-Kilikao bridge has long been overdue, said Salceda, in fairness to the thousands of residents from said five barangays who hardly find access to Daraga town during extreme Mayon eruptions, adding Barangay Kilikao is the site of the Isarog Paper Pulp factory which used to employ thousands of Daraga residents.

Ako Bicol Partylist Congressman Elizaldy Co corroborated Salceda’s statement saying food supplies at the cited five Mayon barangays would become accessible during disaster period.

According to Engineer Azotea, the contractor was given 420 days to finish the bridge project until November, adding four months of the construction period was allocated for the fabrication of the steel components in China. He said the steel bridge components have already arrived at the Customs Bicol office, due for release.