DUPAX DEL SUR, Nueva Vizcaya, September 9 (PIA) – For visitors and ordinary commuters plying the national highway in this town, a narrow portion of the road forces one to reduce speed if not to stop upon an approaching vehicle.
But its narrow size actually represents more than just a road, it represents one of the major historical treasures that Nueva Vizcaya has been protecting.
Through the test of time however, it was found to be unsafe and got recommendations for its immediate repair by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
The Dampol Arc Bridge, built in 1818 by Spanish Fray Francisco Rocamora is an important historical and cultural landmark in Dupax del Sur town.
It is a single –arched brick bridge, built by the hands of old Isinai tribe members that spans the Abanatan creek, dividing Dupax del Sur and Dupax del Norte towns.
Since its establishment, it has served as a link between farmers in both towns to trade in their agricultural products. A few meters from the bridge also stands the St. Vincent Ferrer Church, built in the 18th Century and now declared as a National Cultural Treasure.
The 196 year-old Dampol Arc bridge has been the focus of the proposed bridge repair and improvement project of the DWPH this year.
According to Engineer Glen Miguel, DPWH 2nd district assistant district chief,the Dampol Arc bridge, considered as a primary link of the national highway has been found unsafe and dangerous in 2009 after a study conducted by the agency’s bridge inspectors after they discovered cracks in its middle portion and weak foundations.
“It already needs immediate repair because of the increased flow of commuters coming from Aritao town, using the alternate road,” Miguel said.
This year, the DPWH poured in P2M allocation for its repair, restrengthening and widening through its contractor GM Pajarillaga Construction.
Repair works however came into a halt early last month after several sectors, using the social media cried foul over its repair, further expressing their perception on the move to be more destructive rather than constructive.
The Isinai Advocates for one has called on the suspension of the Dampol Arc Bridge repair by the DPWH and asked the national government to declare it as a national cultural heritage.
“Our proposals for its repair and reinforcement has been temporarily suspended due to misconceptions and fear of its destruction from concerned villagers,” Miguel said.
He said proposed improvement works for the Dampol Arc Bridge include retrofitting of its structure and foundation, reinforcement of its foundations and expansion of its width.
“Its expansion will further reduce the load stress of the old Dampol bridge,” he said.
Through a dialogue initiated by Representative Carlos Padilla with the affected villagers, mostly members of the Isinai tribe, officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways(DWPH) , provincial and municipal governments, the project was properly explained to the villagers.
Finally, the villagers favored the temporary suspension of the Dampol Arc Bridge repair pending the recommendation of its proper restoration and preservation from experts of the National Commission on Culture and the Arts(NCCA) and the National Historical Institute(NHI) and DPWH.
“It is good that we have this dialogue because we have solved and addressed misundertandings and misconceptions. We hope that misinformation will no longer exist among us,” said Dupax del Sur, town mayor Reinier Basconcillo.
- See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=491410258528#sthash.bGnu1F0l.dpuf
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