Public works crew rushed to reopen the access road across Paliwan River in Antique less than a day after a flash flood on Monday, November 21.

The province’s lone congressional representative AA Legarda announced the reopening on Tuesday afternoon, November 22.

“As of November 22, 2022, at 1:52 pm, access road at Paliwan River is currently passable to vehicles. Motorists are advised to take caution when crossing,” the legislator said on his page that provides updates on the status of infrastructure rehabilitation following Severe Tropical Storm Paeng (Nalgae).

But he urged commuters to take caution, noting that rainfall had washed out the embankment and approach to the crossing.

He said his office also coordinated with the local governments of Bugasong and Laua-an, as well as other government agencies, to help stranded commuters cross the Paliwan River.

“I am also working with the DPWH for the immediate restoration of footbridges for commuters crossing the Paliwan River,” he added.

Antique Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Broderick Train said the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) used culvert pipes with sand and gravel heaped on top to create an access road as a temporary remedy for commuters. 

Train urged commuters to use the bamboo bridge constructed before the access road, but stressed that only pedestrians or a single motorcycle can use the makeshift bridge.

Big dump trucks provided by the DPWH also ferry residents across shallow portions of the river, but Train advised a halt to crossings during rainfall to avoid accidents.

Paliwan Bridge links the two municipalities and the southern and northern sides of Antique province.

On Saturday, November 19, Legarda had announced that “rechanneling and dredging of the Paliwan River is 100% complete, which means 750 meters out of 750 meters have been rechanneled and dredged.”

“They have excavated 51,900 cubic meters and hauled excavated materials at 10,250 cubic meters,” Legarda said. “Embankment of temporary approach stands at 37% in the meantime. Nonetheless, 18 HDPE drainage pipes have been successfully laid out to allow vehicles temporary access to the bridge.”

The regional public works office had earlier said the river needed to be temporarily diverted to dry out and reconstruct the bridge’s damaged piers, before they construct a 50-meter steel bailey bridge.

Legarda also announced on the same day the approval of a P15.7-million Quick Response Fund for the application of the remedial measures to Paliwan Bridge before the construction of a new one. – Rappler.com