LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The municipal government expressed its gratitude to the present administration of the State-run Benguet State University (BSU) for its willingness to open an alternate route in Sitio Tebteb, Balili to allow the continuous flow of motorists in and out of Central Balili and Lubas because of the expected closure of the Pines Park Bridge which is going to undergo rehabilitation and upgrading.
Mayor Romeo K. Salda stated that the decision of the BSU administration to allow the use of a portion of its property in Sitio Tebteb, Barangay Balili as a temporary alternate route for motorists while the Pines Park Bridge will be closed will definitely be a big sigh of relief among residents living in the affected communities.
Earlier, Vice Mayor Roderick Awingan and personnel of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) headed by Yushio Labi led the team from the local government in the conduct of the ocular inspection of the area that will serve as the proposed alternate route for motorists at Sitio Tebteb, Barangay Balili recently. The team was accompanied by their counterparts in BSU headed by Dr. Felipe S. Comila.
However, Salda disclosed that the municipal government will have to backfill certain portions of the property and provide the needed gravel for the temporary pavement to ensure it will be passable for motorists.
The local chief executive pointed out that the timely response of the BSU administration to the request of the local government is an indication of the partnership between the municipality and the higher education institution that is beneficial to the greater interest of the majority of the populace.
The public works department warned that the present Pines Park Bridge needs to undergo rehabilitation after its footing was allegedly scoured because of the previous weather disturbances that affected its structural integrity, thus, the need to rehabilitate and upgrade it.
He disclosed that the appropriate interventions will be immediately implemented by the municipal government to ensure that the proposed alternate route in Sitio Tebteb could be immediately used.
The mayor called on the people who will be encountering possible inconveniences with the expected closure of the Pines Park Bridge to bear with the situation to allow the measures to be implemented for their overall safety. By HENT
