TIWI, ALBAY — “This new bridge will be a welcome sight,” said Nora Bautista, one of the townsfolk eagerly awaiting the completion of Nagas Bridge in this municipality.

        “We have been treading on flooded spillway during high tide and heavy rainfall for such a long time,” Bautista pointed out.

        The construction of Nagas Bridge project funded under the UK-Assisted Bridge project cost P16.74 million. It is targeted for completion before end of February 2008.

        “Although we have experienced setback due to the unworkable weather condition for the last quarter of 2007, we are quite confident that we will finish the project as scheduled,” said DPWH Bicol regional director Orlando Roces.

        It will be recalled that the bridge approach was damaged and its detour washed out by strong current due to the incessant rainfall last October 2007 thereby isolating the whole town of Tiwi from neighboring municipalities.

        But within 24 hours, the DPWH had installed a footbridge for pedestrians and steel plates were mounted on the damaged approach to allow the passage of light vehicles.

        The DPWH instituted all means to open the bridge to all kinds of vehicles in the mid-week of November 2007 for public convenience.

        “Tiwi lures tourists for their famous pottery industry and geothermal power plants. Giving the residents an easier accessibility will likewise mean greater profitability to the town,” concluded Roces. (LVCastańeda, DPWH/PIA)