Gov. Ampatuan directs DPWH to address dented bridges in Maguindanao

COTABATO CITY – Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan directed the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the region to immediately conduct inspection on the damaged bridge cause by the renewed skirmishes in Datu Piang Municipality.

In response to the directive, DPWH-ARMM Secretary Rasul Abpi immediately ordered his DPWH-Maguindanao District Engineer to conduct inspection and verify the extent of damage of the Lintukan bridge at barangay Magaslong.

According to military reports the said bridge was bombed by lawless members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front on Tuesday, May 26.

Abpi said he instructed his engineers to report immediately to the regional office their findings. He added that result of the inspection will help them decide what measures to be done.

The secretary assured Datu Piang Mayor Samer Uy that his agency will address the problem. “We will at least put some remedial measures to address the problem so that business as usual in Datu Piang,” he said.

Datu Piang Administrator Mosib Tan said the town’s legislative body is planning to file a Resolution asking help from DPWH-ARMM Regional Office to fix immediately the bridge because “humanitarian groups giving assistance to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are experiencing difficulty in bringing in the assistance with the situation of the bridge now”.

Tan said the Municipal Disaster Coordinating Council, after the inspection they conducted, bared that a big portion of the bridge was destroyed and they will be needing at least P8 million to repair the said facility.