Dada Grifon, Chrixy Paguirigan and Milky Vargas
The supposed to be new boulevard towards improved access to triumph and development for San Pedro, turned to a dead road construction, with hazy vision- and hopeless.
A busy highway serves as the main transport avenue of vehicles as it bridges six major Barangays to the town plaza in San Pedro, Laguna. While it provides easy access to the urban proper, where central transactions take place, it had also become an escape route if there is heavy traffic in the national road. For several decades, citizens had benefited from it as they commute with money-saved and hassle- free ride.
A busy highway serves as the main transport avenue of vehicles as it bridges six major Barangays to the town plaza in San Pedro, Laguna. While it provides easy access to the urban proper, where central transactions take place, it had also become an escape route if there is heavy traffic in the national road. For several decades, citizens had benefited from it as they commute with money-saved and hassle- free ride.
Recently, it was closed. The highway being fastened roughly a year ago left the commuters clueless as to when it shall resume its service.
Last September 2012, a heavy truck passed through the said highway, marking a hint of fracture and fault along the road. The Municipal Engineering Office inspected the damage made and concluded that the road was too frail that it may collapse any moment. With safety concerns, the municipality decided to close the highway and reconstruct a new one.
Last September 2012, a heavy truck passed through the said highway, marking a hint of fracture and fault along the road. The Municipal Engineering Office inspected the damage made and concluded that the road was too frail that it may collapse any moment. With safety concerns, the municipality decided to close the highway and reconstruct a new one.
One resident from Barangay Cuyab said that they were not clearly informed regarding the closure and construction. On the same note, a certain Samantha Guerrero, 18, from Barangay San Antonio said that they were informed, however, the officials said that it will only take a month of construction since people will work 24/7.
Nevertheless, eleven months passed, still the road remains closed.
According to a municipal official, the construction reached the ‘election ban’ period, so even before the construction started, the process was halted.
The said election ban which delayed the construction was in compliance with Commission on Elections (Comelec) Resolution 9039, stating that all construction, or maintenance of provincial, city, municipal and barangay-funded roads and bridges has to be stopped until the day of the election. For on-going construction or maintenance, the Procuring Entity shall submit to the Commission Proper thru the provincial election supervisors/election officers concerned.
The citizens were unaware about the on- going construction. Some reports stated that the road has been demolished entirely. But for the mean time, residents had voiced out their opinion on the issue.
A resident in the affected area said “Hassle,” Carmelo Gerona, also added “Badtrip. Disadvantage ang unang mapapansin. Biglaan pa yung nangyari. Perwisyo.”
Nevertheless, eleven months passed, still the road remains closed.
According to a municipal official, the construction reached the ‘election ban’ period, so even before the construction started, the process was halted.
The said election ban which delayed the construction was in compliance with Commission on Elections (Comelec) Resolution 9039, stating that all construction, or maintenance of provincial, city, municipal and barangay-funded roads and bridges has to be stopped until the day of the election. For on-going construction or maintenance, the Procuring Entity shall submit to the Commission Proper thru the provincial election supervisors/election officers concerned.
The citizens were unaware about the on- going construction. Some reports stated that the road has been demolished entirely. But for the mean time, residents had voiced out their opinion on the issue.
A resident in the affected area said “Hassle,” Carmelo Gerona, also added “Badtrip. Disadvantage ang unang mapapansin. Biglaan pa yung nangyari. Perwisyo.”
Photo By Dada Grifon Alternative Route
The municipality provided a temporary remedy- a hanging bridge which supposed to be an alternative passage for commuters. The bridge lies above a polluted river near a piggery firm, ensuing grumbles and complaints from the dwellers who thought that this kind of substitute will never really work. Constructed only by piles of boards and lumbers connected to a thick rope, the bridge was too frail to be passed on by any type of vehicle.
As a result, motor groups were obliged to go around and pass along two more Barangays to reach the plaza. Hence, commuters as well travel longer time and much costly transport fare.
“Simula ng isara yun, mas hassle ang transportation, kasi iikot pa yung tricycle imbis sana mas madali ang biyahe. Kung lalakarin naman yung hanging bridge, delikado,” Guerrero complained.
But the hanging bride itself was dangerous and difficult. A recent report said that metal screws were scavenged and stolen for business by nearby settlers, causing most of the planks loosely attached to the vessel.
“Yung hanging bridge delikado, kasi yung turnilyo doon na tanso na kinakapitan ng tabla, ninanakaw kaya hind na naka- align. Tapos parang dadaan ka pa sa iskinita na delikado kapag gabi kasi walang ilaw,” Guerrero added.
Meanwhile, it seemed that most tricycle drivers took advantage of the situation, as they were paid higher even if it consumed more fuel.
“Okay lang kahit mas mahaba ang dadaanan, kasi malaki naman ang bayad samin. Karamihan kasi deretsong bayan na, kaya spesyal yung bayad. Malaking pandagdag sa kita namin, mahigit 20 pesos ang dagdag sa isang byahe,” Amron Macabato, a member of San Antonio San Pedro Tricycle Operators and Drivers Alliance (SASTODA) said.
San Pedro Tricycle Operators and Drivers Alliance (SPTODA) and Barangay Cuyab Tricycle Operators and Drivers Alliance (BCTODA) shared same sentiments regarding the issue, being on an advantageous opportunist.
Government’s Plans
The confidence for the possibility of the project’s fulfilment of most San Pedronians were passing cure, especially after nearly a year, there was no visible improvement yet. People have already gotten used to the new course and as time went by, had just made their own adjustments.
“Sa huling pagkakaalam ko ay wala pang nagagawang konstruksyon. Sa katunayan, putol pa ang tulay hanggang sa ngayon. Mabagal ang usad ng pagbubuo sa kabila ng pagiging mahalagang istruktura ng nasabing tulay. Dahil sa pagkakasara nito, malaki na ang ikinalulugi ng komersyo sa bayan ng san pedro pagka't kinakailangan pang humanap ng ibang daan ng mga mamimili at tagapagbagsak ng bilihin,” Hector Brizuela, UPLB researcher and a resident of Barangay Cuyab said.
According to a municipal official, Engineering’s department in collaboration of provincial DPWH is currently working toward the accomplishment of the project before September ends, especially after a new mayor was on helm over the development of the town.
Meanwhile, Guerrero concluded that this new highway would materialize very soon as she was hopeful that a new road leading to progress and development will materialize as well.
The municipality provided a temporary remedy- a hanging bridge which supposed to be an alternative passage for commuters. The bridge lies above a polluted river near a piggery firm, ensuing grumbles and complaints from the dwellers who thought that this kind of substitute will never really work. Constructed only by piles of boards and lumbers connected to a thick rope, the bridge was too frail to be passed on by any type of vehicle.
As a result, motor groups were obliged to go around and pass along two more Barangays to reach the plaza. Hence, commuters as well travel longer time and much costly transport fare.
“Simula ng isara yun, mas hassle ang transportation, kasi iikot pa yung tricycle imbis sana mas madali ang biyahe. Kung lalakarin naman yung hanging bridge, delikado,” Guerrero complained.
But the hanging bride itself was dangerous and difficult. A recent report said that metal screws were scavenged and stolen for business by nearby settlers, causing most of the planks loosely attached to the vessel.
“Yung hanging bridge delikado, kasi yung turnilyo doon na tanso na kinakapitan ng tabla, ninanakaw kaya hind na naka- align. Tapos parang dadaan ka pa sa iskinita na delikado kapag gabi kasi walang ilaw,” Guerrero added.
Meanwhile, it seemed that most tricycle drivers took advantage of the situation, as they were paid higher even if it consumed more fuel.
“Okay lang kahit mas mahaba ang dadaanan, kasi malaki naman ang bayad samin. Karamihan kasi deretsong bayan na, kaya spesyal yung bayad. Malaking pandagdag sa kita namin, mahigit 20 pesos ang dagdag sa isang byahe,” Amron Macabato, a member of San Antonio San Pedro Tricycle Operators and Drivers Alliance (SASTODA) said.
San Pedro Tricycle Operators and Drivers Alliance (SPTODA) and Barangay Cuyab Tricycle Operators and Drivers Alliance (BCTODA) shared same sentiments regarding the issue, being on an advantageous opportunist.
Government’s Plans
The confidence for the possibility of the project’s fulfilment of most San Pedronians were passing cure, especially after nearly a year, there was no visible improvement yet. People have already gotten used to the new course and as time went by, had just made their own adjustments.
“Sa huling pagkakaalam ko ay wala pang nagagawang konstruksyon. Sa katunayan, putol pa ang tulay hanggang sa ngayon. Mabagal ang usad ng pagbubuo sa kabila ng pagiging mahalagang istruktura ng nasabing tulay. Dahil sa pagkakasara nito, malaki na ang ikinalulugi ng komersyo sa bayan ng san pedro pagka't kinakailangan pang humanap ng ibang daan ng mga mamimili at tagapagbagsak ng bilihin,” Hector Brizuela, UPLB researcher and a resident of Barangay Cuyab said.
According to a municipal official, Engineering’s department in collaboration of provincial DPWH is currently working toward the accomplishment of the project before September ends, especially after a new mayor was on helm over the development of the town.
Meanwhile, Guerrero concluded that this new highway would materialize very soon as she was hopeful that a new road leading to progress and development will materialize as well.
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