Pasig bridge damaged by barge collision during Typhoon Carina closed to traffic

Authorities are assessing the F. Manalo Bridge in Pasig City after it was damaged by the collision of wayward barges and boats amid the onslaught of Typhoon Carina.

In Maris Umali’s 24 Oras Thursday report, the bridge’s girder or support was damaged by the impact.

Several critical cracks and some posts were also toppled.

“We requested also na bigyan kami ng ample time to investigate yung integrity ng structure whether we can still retrofit or totally condemn,” said Grecile Christopher Damo, project manager of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Unified Project Management Office - Flood Control Management Cluster.

(We requested that we be given ample time to investigate the integrity of the structure and whether we can still retrofit or totally condemn it.)

Damo ruled the incident as an “accident”, citing the barges were tied according to standard operating procedure.

“This is purely an accident although it’s still under investigation. Ang nangyari kasi sobrang lakas na ng current due to excessive rainfall dun sa bundok, yung mga barge natin natangay pa rin ng current ng tubig,” Damo said.

(This is purely an accident although it’s still under investigation. What happened was the current was too strong, due to the excessive rainfall in the mountains, and it swept away the barges.

The bridge was rendered impassable and has been temporarily closed until further notice.

Bryant Wong, Pasig City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office chief, said there are alternative routes available for motorists.

“What we need to do there is to get an assessment as to whether or not we can use the bridge, Marcos,” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said during a situational briefing with concerned agencies.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority acting chair Don Artes said the wayward barges and boats also struck a pumping station and flood gate.

However, there was no damage and their operations remained unaffected.

The report added some 20 people were rescued during the incident.

The last person to be rescued, John Alfred Sabado, could be seen shaking from the ordeal as he was stranded for more than eight hours before he was rescued.

“May kaba kasi yung agos ng tubig is napakalakas tapos yung mga barge dun sa likod nag uumpugan dun sa may tulay,” said Sabado.

(I was nervous when I was stranded on the barge, due to the strong current the barges behind us were hitting the bridge.)

Sabado was taken to a hospital and received medical attention. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News