DAGUPAN City contributed to the realization of the long-dreamed Pantal bridge contrary to a claim that it is coming to fruition all thru the effort of House Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr.
Mayor Benjamin S. Lim stressed this point in a radio interview Friday in response to a claim attributed to De Venecia that the city spent or contributed nothing to the project.

“Hindi naman tama ang sinabi ng Ispiker na walang gastos ang siyudad sa proyektong yan,” he said, pointing to the efforts of the city to relocate the squatters and those affected by the bridge project.

He added that the city has records to show that the city contributed in the settlement of the sensitive issue on acquiring right of way involving affected landowners in the area. “That’s not a fair statement, for the Speaker to grab (full) credit, he pointed out.”

Lim, who during the groundbreaking ceremony last Wednesday profusely thanked President Macapagal-Arroyo and De Venecia for making the project possible, said that the bridge project was actually conceived during the administration of former Mayor Liberato Reyna and revived by successor Mayor Alipio Fernandez, Jr. the idea then was to build a bridge at the Magsaysay market area.

He said that when he took over, he batted for having the bridge built at the edge of A.B. Fernandez Avenue west. “Pinilit natin during our time na ipatayo doon,” he said. He also took note of the effort of former Bonuan Boquig barangay captain Alfredo Quinto to have the project realized during the time of former President Joseph Estrada.

He clarified that as far as funding was concerned he was attributing the effort to the House leader.

The bridge project is funded by a soft loan with the Japanese Bank for International Cooperation payable in about 10 years under package 3 of the Urgent Bridges construction package for rural development. About 64 bridges are slated for construction under the package. (DOS)