By Villamor Visaya Jr.
CITY OF ILAGAN, Isabela, April 7 (PNA) — President Benigno Simeon Aquino III formally opened Tuesday the P772.924-million Lullutan Bridge in this city and cited it a symbol of his affection to Isabela villagers.
He noted, though, that the bridge started in 1995 and was finished this year, a 20-year span which is why it is considered as the “longest” bridge in Isabela.
The 20-ton-capacity bridge project has been one of those disbursed P11.96-billion infrastructure and irrigation projects for Isabela alone from the Department of Public Works and Highways and National Irrigation Administration since 2011, he said.
The 500.6-lineal meter bridge, which would benefit villagers in 200 villages in Ilagan City and its nearby towns of Quirino, Gamu, Delfin Albano and Mallig, links Calamagui 1st to Lullutan, the gateway and shorter route to other interior towns in Isabela. It has 1.175-km paved approaches.
An overflow bridge was being used in the area until it was destroyed by logs and debris in 1995. Boats and barges have been used until the new bridge was built.
Due to President Aquino’s formal opening of the bridge–which was one of the Urgent Bridges Construction Project for Rural Development and implemented by the DPWH Unified Project Management Office-Bridges Management Cluster–villagers now have easy access to nearby towns in the city. It was built by the Ciriaco Construction with DCCD Engineering Corporation.
Isabela Governor Faustino Dy III has expressed gratitude to President Aquino for funding and finishing the bridge.
Aside from the bridge, at least 59-km farm-to-market roads and 161 irrigation projects have been completed which benefited 200,000 farmers and other villagers in Isabela, President Aquino stressed. (PNA)