TARLAC CITY, Tarlac – Mayor Susan Yap assured the public that work is ongoing to restore the damaged Agana Bridge, with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) working daily to construct a temporary Bailey bridge for the affected residents.
“Patuloy po ang trabaho sa Agana Bridge. Araw-araw nating mino-monitor ang ginagawang Bailey Bridge ng DPWH upang sa lalong madaling panahon ay muli nang maging accessible ang daanan para sa ating mga kababayan,” Mayor Yap said in a statement.
The bridge partially collapsed on August 29 due to continuous rains brought by the southwest monsoon (habagat), which also caused the collapse of the nearby Aquino Bridge. The incident led to severe traffic disruptions and isolated thousands of residents in Tarlac City.
In a tragic turn, an SUV fell into the Tarlac River during the collapse, resulting in the deaths of two individuals. Two other passengers, Paul Harvey Collado and Shiela Mae Taborlupa, remain missing as search and rescue operations continue.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. inspected the damaged bridge on September 2, accompanied by DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon and local officials, to assess the progress of the Bailey bridge construction.
The President ordered immediate repairs and announced that the national government would allocate P300 million for the rehabilitation of both damaged bridges.
The temporary Bailey bridge—a portable, pre-fabricated modular truss bridge is expected to be passable for pedestrians within one week and for light vehicles weighing up to 10 tons within two weeks.
“Hangad natin na maibalik agad ang normal na daloy ng biyahe at mas mapadali ang pagpunta sa kanilang mga trabaho, tahanan at mga pang-araw-araw na gawain,” Mayor Yap added.
She urged residents to avoid the construction area for their safety. “Habang ginagawa po ang tulay, pakiusap ko sa ating mga kababayan na huwag munang lumapit sa construction area. May mga mabibigat na kagamitan at patuloy ang trabaho doon, kaya mas mabuting manatili sa ligtas na lugar upang maiwasan ang anumang aksidente.”
With the Agana and Aquino bridges both damaged, Gerona currently serves as the only alternate route for motorists . The Bailey bridge is expected to help reconnect Tarlac City with nearby areas and restore the flow of essential goods and services.
