DPWH gets salvage team to remove barge swept from Marikina River

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said a salvage team will soon be deployed by the contractor of the barge to remove it from the waters in F. Manalo Bridge in Pasig City.

According to a "24 Oras" report by Mariz Umali, the strong current of the Marikina River at the height of typhoon Carina on Wednesday caused barge No. 20 to lose its anchor and collide with another barge before drifting toward the bridge.

Based on the location map shown to GMA Integrated News, at around 3:30 in the afternoon on Wednesday, when the water in the Marikina River rose, barge No. 20 collided with barge No. 18.

"Nagkaroon ng parang bowling type o chain reaction nabangga yung isa and then dun sila gumalaw (There was a bowling type or chain reaction, one collided to another and then they moved)," said DPWH engineer Grece Christopher Damo

The incident caused damage to the F. Manalo Bridge which, apart from being low, is also old. 

The DPWH said the barge along with the other debris in the area needed to be removed before another downpour came, which could trigger the water current anew.

"Lalo na ma-total damage nila yung tulay isa yun. Pangalawa, pwedeng pag gumalaw sila definitely tatama na naman sila dun sa mga barge na nakasteady na dun yung mga nakalubog na. They’re racing against time,” Damo said.

(This could cause total damage to the bridge. When the barge moves, it could hit the other barges anew or those boats that have sunk.)

Based on its analysis, the DPWH said it is still possible to save the F. Manalo bridge so that motorists can pass through it again.

“Kailangan siyang maging passable as soon as possible, yung approach ang medyo critical na kailangan naming i-secure," said Damo. 

(It needs to be passable as soon as possible, the approach is quite critical that we need to secure.) 

The bridge’s girder or support was damaged by the impact. Several critical cracks were found and some posts were also toppled.

Several workers were aboard the barge when it was swept away.  They were eventually rescued.—Sherylin Untalan/LDF, GMA Integrated News