Aug.

19,2009

Newly-Finished P1.024B Agas-Agas Bridge Is Now Open To Public Traffic

By Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.

Maasin City, Southern Leyte-The newly-finished P1.024B Agas-Agas bridge in

brgy.Kahupian,Sogod of this province has recently been open to public
traffic(second week of August 2009) after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo,who
together with Congressman Roger Mercado and Governor Damian Mercado and other high
government officials rode on an open-type jeepney that drove-thru the “ribbon-
barred”350 meters bridge up to the other end.
This was the discourse of a reliable source who was one of those in attendance
in the opening of the new bridge, considered as the highest in height and the
longest in length, compare to other bridges constructed in the country. The bridge
construction has traversed between the two sides of opposite mountain. The change
of the bridge position is deemed as solution to the perennial problem of
landslides in that portion of the Maharlika Highway on the way to Mahaplag from
Sogod town. The past landslides occurrences would most of the time blocked passing
vehicles, making the road impassable. A landslide in the past which occurred one
rainy day had buried alive 6 workers below while taking their rest.
A makeshift tent was temporarily put in the middle of the bridge after the
drove-thru ceremony that served as a stage where the President thanked the
Japanese government for providing the loan to the Philippines thru the
Philippines-Japan Friendship Highway Rehabilitation Project under the arterial
road link development project 1V in different regions of the country.
Arroyo also expressed her profuse thanks to Congressman Roger Mercado, Governor
Damian Mercado and the people of Southern Leyte for their strong support to her
candidacy as a Congresswoman, as Senator and as President.
Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Makoto Katsura for his part said that he
was happy to have joined in the inaugural opening of the new bridge that his
country has funded. Governor Mercado also expressed his thanks to the President
for constructing a new and huge bridge for the province. He implied the bridge
would help business and trading movements safe and more accessible to businessmen-
travellers.Besides,it would not be affected easily anymore by bad weather which
would trigger a landslide at the nearby mountain unlike in the past years.
After the speeches of speakers, some extreme sports enthusiasts exhibited their
skills in jetline rappelling alongside the tallest bridge for several minutes to
entertain the officials, barrio folks including the Manila and local press.
Earlier, the President and her entourage aboard 3 helicopters have landed at
the SLSU main campus at 10:25 a.m.They reached Agas-Agas Bridge after 35 minutes
of road trip. The new bridge has the great potentiality of becoming the tourists’
destination in this part of region 8(Leyte and Samar).

Blessing and Inauguration

Proceeding to Maasin they landed at the Maasin Pier at 12:00 noon. The
President with DPWH Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane,Jr. and Presidential Adviser on
Political affairs Gabriel Claudio and her entourage were met by City Mayor Maloney
Samaco and other city hall officials and some city dwellers. As they reached the
city bus terminal, the blessing and inauguration of the P75M, 170 stalls, and new
wet market has started. Arroyo cut the ceremonial ribbon and was also witnessed by
Mayor Samaco, Vice-Mayor Effie Abiera-Sabandal, the Mercado brothers and the city
officials. The blessing was officiated by Bishop Precioso Cantillas.The
groundbreaking for the dry market nearby has followed.
At the stage inside the bus terminal, Arroyo this time speaking in the Cebuano
language before the think crowd of people, she informed that her administration
shall be submitting a budget proposal for next year that will cushion the impact
of the global economic turmoil which all countries are now experiencing.
The President also reiterated what she had said earlier at Agas-Agas Bridge
that the people of the province had supported the 3 stages of her candidacy when
she was running as Congresswoman, Senator and as President of the republic.
She further said that her administration has provided scholarship programs for
vocational and computer courses to interested and deserving students. She implied
the courses were intended to help jobless people given the opportunity to get jobs
either here and abroad. She added that the measure will also help young men and
women achieve their desires to become independent from their parents and could in
turn help their respective families.
Congressman Mercado for his part has enumerated some projects that the
President has initiated and accomplished in various parts of the country. This he
said cover health, education, infrastructures like roads, bridges,
schoollbuildings, ports, electrification, foreign investors pouring capitals thru
invitation among businessmen in other countries she had visited, among others.
After the affair, also attended by barangay officials, SP members, PNP
personnel, city employees, some city dwellers, some local and Manila media, the
President and entourage were led to the City Hall for the luncheon.
The President was somewhat in a hurry .After a short lunch they went down
towards Pabulhon booths, near city gymnasium, for the official opening of Agri-
Fair and Fishery. The President cut the ceremonial ribbon and made a short talk
then proceeded to the Maasin port. The 3 helicopters were they were aboard
encircled the area around in low altitude before finally leaving the city towards
Samar for another engagement.
Also present at the Agas-Agas inaugural opening were Dept. of Tourism Secretary
Ace Durano, Sogod Mayor Shepherd Tan, JICA Representative Hiroshi Togo, 8th ID
Commander Arthur Tabaquero, NYC Commissioner Ricard Nalupta, DPWH personnel led by
Engr. Carlos Veloso, PNP regional commander/Superintendent Mario San
Diego.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)