By DANNY O. SAGUN
PIA-Pangasinan Infocenter

THE DOMALANDAN bridge in Lingayen needs at least P114 million more for its completion hopefully early next year, the regional director of the public works and highways department disclosed Thursday.

Engineer Fidel Ginez told the Patrima ‘Kapihan’ at the Philippine Information Agency provincial office that some P640 million had already been spent for the reconstruction of the flood-damaged 600-meter-long-bridge that links the capital town to western Pangasinan thru a shorter route.

Ginez also bared that Gov. Victor E. Agbayani brought up the bridge project in a recent meeting in Malacañang regarding projects for Mega Regions that include northern Luzon.

He added that due to lack of funds he was instructed to ask the contractor, Ciriaco Corp., to continue with the project construction up to its completion before the town fiesta of Lingayen in January as DPWH looks for funds.

Remaining works are concreting of girders at the six spans as well as concreting of slabs.

The bridge was destroyed by a big flashflood some six years ago. Motorists since then have to take the longer route to western Pangasinan via barangay Socony in Bugallon.

Reconstruction of the bridge started during the time of President Joseph Estrada but funds for the P756-million project came in installments.

President Macapagal-Arroyo pledged its completion in 2004 as she directed Agbayani to make constant follow-ups with the DPWH.

On other big projects in the province, Ginez said that construction will commence shortly for the P903 million bridge along Pantal river that will link the new diversion road from Bonuan to Lucao.

An earlier scheduled groundbreaking yesterday, July 22, was reset to an undisclosed date yet, even though Speaker Jose C. de Venecia briefly visited the area yesterday shortly after attending a De Venecia clan gathering at the City Astrodome. .

The bridge will be constructed at the old destroyed bridge in Babaliwan, it was gathered.

Meantime, concreting of the new P315-million-diversion road and other remaining works will start soon, Ginez said. The concreting and other works require a funding of some P40 million.
The new Pantal bridge is part of the 63 bridge projects under the rural development program under phase 3, it was learned.