TARLAC CITY, Tarlac — Provincial and city officials on Tuesday night, expressed gratitude to emergency responders, even as search and retrieval operations continue at the Agana Bridge site.
The entire province of Tarlac remains under a state of calamity as two major bridges collapsed, and severe flooding in the whole province, cutting off key routes and leaving at least two people dead and two others missing.
The disaster was triggered by days of relentless rain from the enhanced southwest monsoon, prompting the provincial government to declare a state of calamity to facilitate the release of emergency funds and accelerate response efforts. The destruction of the Agana Bridge and the Aquino Bridge has severely disrupted mobility in the province.
The Agana Bridge, a 136-meter structure built shortly after World War II, partially collapsed on August 29, causing an SUV to plunge into the raging Tarlac River. One passenger survived, while the bodies of two others were later recovered in Pangasinan waters.
Three others remain missing. The Aquino Bridge, a much longer 720-meter structure, sustained more extensive damage and is expected to take longer to repair.
In a late-night briefing at the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) on September 2, Governor Christian Yap personally monitored the situation across the province, particularly the ongoing Special Rescue and Retrieval Operations at the Agana Bridge site. He assured the public that weather conditions, roads, and bridges remain under close monitoring, especially in vulnerable areas.
Yap expressed his heartfelt gratitude to all responders who continue to act and provide assistance, including the Tarlac Police Provincial Office, Tactical Operations Group 3 of the Philippine Air Force, various Philippine Army units, the Philippine Coast Guard, local disaster risk reduction offices, volunteer groups such as the Tarlac Filipino-Chinese Volunteers Fire Brigade and Deltacom, and the Department of Public Works and Highways.
“Habang marami sa ating mga kababayan ay nasa kanilang mga tahanan, kayo po ay patuloy na nasa field, handang tumugon at tumulong anumang oras,” Yap said. “Ang inyong serbisyo at sakripisyo ay malaking bahagi ng ating pagsisikap na mapanatiling ligtas ang bawat Tarlaqueño.”
The governor also appealed to the public to remain vigilant, heed official advisories, exercise caution when traveling, and not hesitate to seek help when needed.
“Sa ating mga Tarlaqueño, makiisa po tayo sa pagbabantay. Makinig po tayo sa mga abiso ng ating mga awtoridad, mag-ingat sa pagbiyahe, at huwag mag-atubiling humingi ng tulong kung kinakailangan,” he said.
Tarlac City Mayor Susan Yap, in a separate address, also acknowledged the difficult days the city has endured. She personally thanked the same roster of frontliners who tirelessly assisted, watched over, and rescued those in need.
“Taos-puso po akong nagpapasalamat sa inyong tapang, sakripisyo at serbisyong walang hinihintay na kapalit. Maraming salamat sa hindi ninyo pag-iwan sa ating mga kababayan sa gitna ng kagipitan,” Mayor Yap said.
She also expressed hope and continued prayers for the missing individuals, appealing for divine guidance as search operations persist.
“Hindi pa man po tapos ang ating pinagdaraanan, patuloy tayong umaasa at nananalangin. Nawa’y gabayan tayo ng Maykapal sa bawat hakbang at nawa’y matagpuan na rin ang iba pa nating mga kababayang patuloy nating hinahanap,” she said.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has pledged PHP300 million to fund the repair of the two damaged bridges. He also ordered the immediate installation of a Bailey bridge as a temporary crossing at Agana Bridge, with pedestrian crossing possible within a week and light vehicles allowed to pass within two weeks.
The President attributed the severity of the damage to climate change, noting that the volume of water was unprecedented for the 70-year-old structures.
Both officials called for public vigilance and cooperation, emphasizing the importance of unity during the crisis. “Patuloy po tayong magbantay, magtulungan at magmalasakit sa isa’t isa,” Governor Yap said.
