By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet

On Monday, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) announced that it has resolved the queries of concerned individuals regarding the damaged asphalt pavement of the Panguil Bay Bridge in Northern Mindanao.

The said bridge, which was opened on September 27, 2024, connects Tangub City, Misamis Occidental, and Tubod, Lanao del Norte, and serves as a vital infrastructure project expected to boost regional connectivity and economic growth.

However, the passage of overloaded vehicles led to the appearance of surface damage on the asphalt pavement. Torrential rains further aggravated the problem, as rainwater seeped into the affected road surfaces, leading to expansion of potholes and further deterioration of the pavement.

According to an in-depth assessment of DPWH and the project consultant, Yooshin-Pyunghwa-Kyongho joint venture, the defects were caused by overloading trucks exceeding the 30-ton design capacity of the bridge.

In compliance with the anti-overloading policy (RA 8794) and to prevent further damage, portable weighing scales were installed at both ends of the bridge in Tangub City, managed by Misamis Occidental 2nd District Engineering Office and Tubod under Lanao del Norte 1st District Engineering Office. However, 24/7 monitoring has been limited due to budget constraints.

As reported by Project Director Teresita V. Bauzon, the defects are confined to the asphalt pavement on some sections and do not affect the structural integrity of the 3.17-kilometer long bridge. She added that the contractor, Namkwang-Kukdong-Gumgwang joint venture (NKG JV), has been directed to replace the damaged asphalt pavement at no additional cost, as the completion certificate for the project has not yet been issued.

Currently, the DPWH UPMO – RMC 2 is in talks with the DPWH Regional Office 10 to ensure full operations of weighing facilities day and night at both ends of the bridge in Tangub City, Misamis Occidental and Tubod, Lanao Del Norte.

Emergency repairs for the affected bridge already underway

The emergency repair works on the Tangub City to Tubod direction has already been completed as of Sunday (Dec. 1), addressing concerns raised on social media regarding issues such as potholes, depressions, rutting, and shoving.

Meanwhile, the Tubod to Tangub City direction has been temporarily opened to two-way traffic, with round-the-clock repairs being conducted to minimize disruptions. Once the Tangub City to Tubod emergency repairs are completed, repairs on the Tubod to Tangub direction will commence on Monday morning and are targeted for completion by 7:00 AM on Tuesday (Dec. 3).

To ensure long-term quality, the DPWH has directed the contractor to prepare and submit a comprehensive repair plan. This plan includes a revised asphalt mix design and waterproofing measures to support the full end-to-end upgrading of the asphalt pavement.

DPWH assured that the asphalt layer that serves to enhance the bridge’s long-term durability is being rectified to high standards and that the box girders and main structural components of the bridge remain unaffected.

-avds