GMA Kapuso Foundation's hanging bridge project in Oriental Mindoro almost finished

GMA Kapuso Foundation's hanging bridge project in Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro is almost finished.

According to "24 Oras" Monday, this is the foundation's ninth bridge under its Kapuso Tulay sa Kaunlaran Project.

The 70-meter-long cable-suspended steel hanging bridge will benefit the Hanunuo Mangyan indigenous community, whose members have to walk more than four kilometers of uneven road and pass through a river while carrying their produce just to get to the next town of Bulalacao.

"Kapag malaki ang tubig, talagang nalulugi kami. Na-i-stuck talaga ang aming kalakal dahil hininihintay namin ang mababang tubig bago kami [lumusong], pero ang nabulok ay lugi na kami," said Hermo Pado.

"'Yung baha ay hanggang [leeg] ang agos ng tubig, 'yung mga kahoy galing dun sumabit sa akin. 'Yung aking pasan-pasan natangay ng tubig. Gusto po namin talagang magkatulay," said Elias Luzon.

GMA Kapuso Foundation started the construction of the bridge in May 2024. It will connect Mansalay to Bulalacao and is set to be finished soon.

According to the report, delivering materials to the site has not been easy due to the typhoons in the past year.

"'Yung route papunta dito pababa, medyo nagpuputik. 'Yung mga truck hindi na siya makapunta rito. Ang ginawa natin, gumamit tayo ng mga traktora para maghakot ng mga materyales papunta dito sa site," said Engr. Arnel Zantua, supervising engineer of GMA Kapuso Foundation.

For those who wish to support GMA Kapuso Foundation's projects, donations may be made via Metrobank, Land Bank, BDO, Bank of Commerce, UnionBank, PNB, Cebuana Lhuillier, GCash, Lazada, and Shopee. Visit the GMA Kapuso Foundation website for more information.

—CDC, GMA Integrated News