LEGAZPI CITY – Typhoon-ravaged Travesia bridge in Guinobatan town in Albay collapsed after almost half of the 270-vehicle “Malacanang to Bicol Relief Caravan” passed through it, stranding hundreds of light and heavy vehicles traversing the Maharlika highway to Bicol and the Visayas from Manila and vice-versa.

        The 10-tonner five-meter Travesia bridge has been turned into a one-lane passageway since typhoon Reming damaged the structure by rampaging floodwaters and mudflow.

        Legazpi City Councilor Cerilo Chan without haste took the opportunity to call on MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando who was accompanying the caravan to help cause the immediate rehabilitation of the bridge.

        Rep. Joey Salceda of Albay’s 3rd congressional district said he would order for the reconstruction of the collapsed bridge in two days time.

        Highway authorities immediately set up a detour route advising motorists to negotiate a 12-kilometer road from Guinobatan proper via a municipal road traversing the barangays of Maorao in Guinobatan and Palanog and Tagaytay in Camalig leading to this city.

        The caravan was composed of 270 assorted vehicles and trucks loaded with food, medicine and other supplies for calamity-stricken areas in Bicol.

        Arnel Capili, director of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Bicol said that 40 percent of the relief goods were to be allocated for Albay, 30 percent for Camarines Sur, 20 percent for Catanduanes, and 10 percent for Sorsogon.

        The caravan left the Pasay City Central Business District after a formal sendoff by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at about 10:30 a.m Tuesday (Dec. 5) and arrived at 9:30 p.m. of the same day at the Camarines Sur Convention Center in Pili, Camarines Sur before proceeding at Camp Simeon Ola here at about 1:00 p.m.

        In simple rites held at Camp Simeon Ola after all the vehicles have been accounted for, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) turned over the relief goods that included construction materials to the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council and to Albay Gov. Fernando Gonzales by the Department of Social Welfare and Development at around 3:00 p.m.

        Budget Secretary and Cabinet Officer for Regional Development in Bicol Rolando ‘Nonoy’ Andaya said that the caravan was the first and biggest caravan held ever.

        “The Malacanang to Mayon Mercy Mission is the first and biggest caravan after one of the Typhoon Reming victims, an old woman, asked the visiting President shortly after the typhoon not to abandon them,” Andaya said.

        He disclosed the government has allocated at least P10 billion for the rehabilitation of school buildings, government infrastructures and institutions destroyed by the super typhoon.

        MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando for his part said he has brought with him 300 MMDA workers who will help Bicol, specifically Albay, in its “Operation Linis” operations. At least 17 mayors from the National Capital Region led by Quezon City Mayor Sonny Belmonte, a native of Ligao City, gave their share in the accumulation of goods for the relief caravan.

        Linemen from the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) were also on hand to help in the rehabilitation and restoration of collapsed power lines.

        During the sendoff at the Pasay Central Business park along Diosdado Macapagal Avenue, President Arroyo said the caravan was spontaneously organized by civic-minded groups that wanted to stand up and be counted for the relief operations in the typhoon-ravaged Bicol region.

        She said the P10 billion rehabilitation fund for Bicol would be taken from the allocation for non-priority government projects under the proposed 2007 national budget.

        In 1993, then President Fidel V. Ramos also allocated P10 billion for the rehabilitation of Central Luzon provinces affected by the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo.