Broken bridge in Iloilo results to students relying on bamboo rafts to get to school

In Dingle, Iloilo, a broken bridge has made everyday life grueling for the residents.

Jessica Soho flew to Iloilo and was able to witness their daily struggles.

No less than 11 barangays have been affected after the bridge was broken by Typhoon Odette in December 2021. In April 2022, tropical storm Agaton ensured it remained damaged.

According to a report on "Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho," this resulted in a struggle in transportation. Residents, including students, took to crossing the river by riding bamboo rafts, the line for which reaches 200 meters during rush hour. This is because the raft can only fit six people at a time.

However, despite the dire situation, residents opt for this option as it would cost them an additional P40 every day if they take the longer route around the river, which will take more than thirty minutes. In contrast, riding the raft would only cost them P5 and would only take minutes to cross.

Grade 7 student Nicole admits to Soho that she feels bad over the wasted time.

"Nanghihinayang po kasi pagdating ko po dun sa bahay gabi na po," she tells KMJS. "Meron pa po akong tatawiring ilog bago makarating ng bahay."

("By the time I'm home, it's already late. I'd have to cross a river just to get home.")

Nicole lives in Barangay Tula-tulaan, which is located at the very edge of Dingle. Before, she would wake up at 5 a.m. to get ready for school, but ever since the bridge broke, she's been getting up at 4 a.m.

She then walks 30 minutes to get to a habal-habal, and the ride to the river in Barangay Camambugay takes 30 minutes.

There's an alternate route she can take — however, it would add another half hour to the journey. Another option is to take the hanging bridge or cross a road opened near the dam, but this is currently being repaired.

Despite Nicole's efforts to wake up earlier, she says that she still arrives late to school.

"Kapag maaraw na po, 'yung marami na pong mga tao. Nasa dulo na rin po ako kaya matagal-tagal pa po akong makaalis dun at makasakay ng lantay. Kaya madalas po nale-late po ako sa school," she says.

("It takes a while before I can get on the raft, and get to school. Because there's so many people, I'd usually run late.")

Nicole remains patient throughout the hours-long journey. She says she's still determined to finish her education. In fact, she's been consistently in the honor roll.

She dreams of becoming a nurse.

"Kakayanin ko po para sa pangarap ko po," she says.

("I will bear with it, so my dreams will become a reality.")

Still, she adds that fixing the bridge would be a great help.

Her mother echoes her sentiments, getting emotional as she shares that she fears for Nicole's safety.

"Natatakot ako tuwing dyan siya dumadaan kasi kung tataas ang tubig, hindi siya marunong lumangoy," she says. "Pero wala akong magawa kasi kung iikot, gagastos sa pamasahe. Kasi syempre, mahirap ang sitwasyon tapos walang steady na trabaho. Mahirap talaga siya."

("I get scared when she's on the raft, because she doesn't know how to swim. But it's not like we could really do anything. Taking the other route would be expensive for us. It's especially difficult since we don't have a source of steady income.")

Meanwhile, the school has adjusted its hours to accommodate the students' struggles.

"Usually 7:15 po is 'yung ating first period in the morning but inuurong po 'yun sa 7:30. At the same time, para sa hapon mabigyan po sila ng time na makauwi early. So inurong din po 'yung schedule from 4:30 to 4 o'clock sa juniors."

("We'd normally start classes at 7:15, but we'd move it to 7:30 to give a bit more leeway for the students. In the afternoon, we do the same, we adjust their schedules from 4:30 PM to 4 PM.)

The boatmen who operate the rafts likewise struggle.

Artem, who began operating a balsa in February, says that it's difficult and tiring for them. They also don't charge a set fare—they simply ask for donations.

"'Yung mga tao po kasi sa 'min dito sa Riverside, hindi po sila madali nakakapunta sa bayan kaya po naisipan po namin gumawa ng balsa," he said. "Napakahirap po samin, nakakapagod pong magpabalik-balik na mabilis kasi marami pang estudyante na kailangan makatawid at makapasok."

("The people here had difficulty getting into town, so we thought of building a raft. It's difficult, tiring, to go back and forth. We do the best we could so we could get the students to their classes.")

And it's not just students who suffer, but residents like Karlene.

Karlene says, "Ang hirap pumunta ng bayan. Ang hirap pumunta ng school kasi wala kaming choice."

("It's difficult to get into town, to go to school. But we don't really have a choice.)

A mother of five, Karlene says they need two rides to get to town. A roundtrip costs her P160.

On top of that, they don't have electricity. It got cut off two weeks ago because she's been unable to pay.

Asked if her children complain about not wanting to go to school anymore due to transport issues, she says, "Ako 'yung sumusuko. Kasi walang makayang ibigay na pamasahe. Baon nga lang, tinitipid. Pamasahe pa kaya."

("At times, I felt like giving up, because we don't have enough money for transportation and for school allowance.")

To help her out, her 15-year-old son sidelines as an aide for raft operators. He does this right after classes. This earns him P200, and allows him to have money for food.

Meanwhile, another resident named Jeremy suffers for another reason—he's a survivor of polio. The disease caused him difficulty in walking, adding to the risk of riding the rafts.

"Sumasakit po 'yung katawan ko," he says. "Puro po kasi ako trabaho, naglalaba po ako, pumapasan ng kahoy at naglilinis ng bahay."

"Mainit," he adds. "Masakit lang paa ko, parang namanhid."

("I'd feel pain all over my body, because of work, because of carrying wood and cleaning the house. It's hot too, which makes my feet hurt.")

However, he says he will continue to endure, "Para po makatipid sa pera na ipamasahe."

("So I can save money on transportation costs.")

As the raft operations continue, the local government of Dingle, as well as officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) conducted an inspection. Jessica Soho was able to personally interview them.

They say that they're targeting April 15 for the completion of the bridge. They added that they started the process as early as September 28, 2022.

Asked what stage the construction is in, they answered, "Actually kung sa aming assessment ngayon, sa foundation sila ngayon."

("Based on our assessment right now, the team is working on building the foundation.")

They said that there are challenges that hinder the repair of the bridge, such as weather conditions and destroyed water pipelines. When it rains in the area, the water gets deep, and the equipment can't pass through.

Assuring the public, they said, "May instruction na kami sa contractor na i-fast-track talaga 'yung construction."

("We've asked the contractor to fast-track the construction of the bridge.")  —JCB, GMA Integrated News