Mindanao-Congressional Ave. footbridge in QC blocked by cables; MMDA reacts

A netizen turned to social media to complain about the power cables obstructing the newly constructed Mindanao Avenue-Congressional Avenue footbridge  in Quezon City, according to a report on GMA News TV's Balitanghali on Sunday by Katrina Son.

Pio Gerona Fortuno Jr. uploaded a video on Facebook on Thursday night showing several cables along the path of pedestrians using the overpass.

"I don't know which is more dangerous - crossing the busy Mindanao Ave/Congressional Ave intersection below or the newly built elevated pedestrian walk that has utility wires on the path that force you to dance tinikling," he wrote in his post which has generated more than 500 comments to date.

Authorities have since closed the overpass to pedestrians.

According to a resident in the area, the footbridge is really still closed, but some people may have removed the yellow "caution" tape earlier to be able to use it.

"Ang harang po niya, 'yung dilaw lang po na 'Caution' ba 'yun na dilaw na tali. Tapos eh siyempre siguro mga bata, tinanggal nila para makadaan mga estudyante o ano. Ayun, 'di na open na 'yung ano. Wala nang harang. Dinadaanan na ng tao," he said.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) confirmed that the footbridge is still not open to pedestrians, adding that they are still fixing the problem with the cables.

The MMDA also said it has added additional barriers to block pedestrians wanting to use the overpass.

Before the pedestrian overpass was constructed, the MMDA said it wrote the companies owning the cables asking them to remove them.

"Matagal na raw nilang sinusulatan 'yan no. Eh siguro hinintay nilang matapos 'yan to maximize 'yung time nila bago ilipat. Ang problema, natapos kami kaagad. So that's why they need really to remove it," MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia said.

Garcia said they gave the companies until Thursday to remove the cables or else the MMDA will be the ones to take them out. 

"Hanggang Thursday binigyan namin sila ng ultimatum to remove all obstructions," he said. —KG, GMA News