Aired (January 18, 2025): Sira-sira at delikadong tulay sa Mercedes, Camarines Norte at San Miguel, Bulacan, patuloy na tinatawid ng mga residente sa kabila ng panganib. Ano nga ba ang kwento sa likod ng mga tulay na ito at ano ang ginagawa ng gobyerno para masolusyunan ang problemang ito? Alamin sa episode ng #Reporter’sNotebook.
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00:00Oh my God, help me!
00:11Projects that were supposed to continue for the residents to go to school and use for their livelihood.
00:21But they were destroyed and not saved.
00:25In the town of Mercedes, Camarinas Norte,
00:29a video was captured of students crossing the river while the water was flowing.
00:38A few moments later, the two students lost their balance and were quickly swept away by the water.
00:50Then, another child was swept away.
00:58Hurry, hurry!
01:01In the distance, the three students could hardly be seen due to the force of the water.
01:06Hurry, hurry!
01:09The force of the water was so strong that they were carried to the other side.
01:18This hanging bridge in San Miguel, Bulacan,
01:20was also used by students like Christine Joy whenever the force of the water was strong in the river.
01:29It was destroyed.
01:31We couldn't cross the river.
01:33We were carried to the other side.
01:35We were tied up and then we were swept away.
01:37A wrong step could cause the water to fall into the deep and become flooded.
01:45Of course, we were also worried that the water might flood the river.
01:51In another visit of the Reporter's Notebook in Mangatulay,
01:57what will we encounter?
01:59We insisted for a long time that there should be an answer, that there should be a solution.
02:04Because of the force of the rain, this river flooded the Mercedez Camarines Norte.
02:20The small road to cross to the other side was flooded with water.
02:26They couldn't cross it.
02:28At that time,
02:29the students, Narena Rose, Daniela, and her brother, Danilin, were on their way home from school.
02:37That's why they had to cross the river.
02:41But while the water in the river was flooding,
02:44they didn't expect what would happen next.
02:49Narena Rose and Daniela quickly crossed the river.
02:53Oh my God! There's a flood!
02:55Then, Danilin followed.
02:57There's a flood!
02:59Hurry!
03:01Oh my God!
03:03There's a flood!
03:05Hurry!
03:11Two days after the incident,
03:14the Reporter's Notebook went to Barangay Pambuhan in Mercedez Camarines Norte.
03:19It's getting stronger. It's getting stronger.
03:22According to Jessibel Dayulena, one of the people who filmed the incident,
03:27she immediately ran to the river when she heard that there were students who were watching the water flood.
03:35Oh my God! There's a flood!
03:37This is when she found out that the three students were her neighbors.
03:42Hurry!
03:44Oh my God!
03:45Hurry!
03:47This is when the water flooded.
03:49It was in the middle of the river.
03:51This is when it got stronger.
03:55They were able to get to that point.
03:58They were able to get to that point.
04:03It was a bit far.
04:05The people here couldn't avoid crossing the river because there was no other way.
04:12According to Jessibel,
04:14this river is already known to be dangerous whenever the weather is bad.
04:18Even if it's just a little rain, it immediately floods and floods their roads.
04:24Especially when the rain is in a part of the mountain, it suddenly floods.
04:30The Reporter's Notebook also went to the house of the students who were watching the river.
04:35Some of the school supplies were even left outside their house.
04:41This is where we found out that the students Rena Rose, Daniela, and her brother, Danny Lin, were saved.
04:49It was in the middle of the river.
04:52It was in the middle of the river.
04:55We were inside the house when the water suddenly flooded.
05:03My sister was saved and I was also saved.
05:08Oh my God! There's a flood!
05:09Oh my God! There's a flood!
05:11Hurry!
05:13I'm scared. I don't want to go down there.
05:17I feel like I'm going to die there.
05:21Hurry!
05:23It's good that they were saved immediately by some residents who are looking for life in the river.
05:28According to one of the rescuers, he didn't hesitate to jump into the river to save the children.
05:34I saw that they fell, so I ran.
05:38When I ran, I slipped, so I jumped to catch them.
05:43The mother of Daniela and Danny Lin was worried about the news that her children were in an accident.
05:50I was so scared. There were two of them.
05:53When you saw them, you were saved.
05:56I can't explain how it happened.
05:58I just thanked God and the two of them were saved.
06:05The reporter's notebook also learned that there used to be a bridge in Barangay Pambuhan.
06:10But the problem is that it was cut off in 2019 due to the heavy rain.
06:16Since then, the residents have not had a safe crossing whenever the river floods.
06:23This is what the old bridge was made of.
06:26It was just a passageway for people to cross.
06:29But in 2019, when the other side of the bridge was cut off,
06:36the barangay told us that there's a budget for it.
06:44I just don't know when.
06:47To be honest, there's a small road next to the broken bridge.
06:52However, whenever the river floods, the road is cut off.
06:56That's why the residents are still forced to cross it even though it's dangerous.
07:00Hey! Don't run! Hurry!
07:04The problem with that bridge has been going on for a long time.
07:08There's always a promise.
07:10There's always an election.
07:13There's always a promise.
07:15Should we wait for something to happen again?
07:16I still hope that this accident won't happen again.
07:23I hope that no one will follow this.
07:26Next to the broken bridge,
07:28there's a marked tarpaulin with the details of a bridge project.
07:35This is what's marked next to the broken bridge.
07:39This is the project description.
07:41It says that the implementing agency is DPWH Camarinas Norte
07:46and the cost is P35 million.
07:50The barangay captain is saying that the project will be completed by the end of February.
07:56But until now, no one has started the project.
08:00The barangay captain said that they have approached the municipal and provincial government several times to ask for the project.
08:07We've already made a lot of resolutions to give us the project.
08:11If only the barangay budget allows it, I've been doing it for a long time.
08:13We don't stop to ask for help.
08:18That's why I'm still alive inside.
08:21Last week, they told me that by the end of February, the project will be completed.
08:30In January 2024, the reporter's notebook released the video of a flood
08:37of students crossing a muddy road in the town of Mercedes Camarinas Norte.
08:43When we brought it to the local government of Camarinas,
08:47just a month later, the rehabilitation of the bridge started immediately.
08:51P35 million was the amount allocated for this project.
08:55And it was only in September 2024 that the bridge was completed.
09:00In the past, it was a small road above the river where the residents cross.
09:06Now, the bridge is cemented and it is safe to cross even if the water level in the river is high.
09:14Motorcycles and vehicles can also cross it.
09:19The fund came from the General Appropriations Act or GAAC.
09:24We asked the mayor of the town to approve the construction of the bridge.
09:29It seems that the LGU also asked for help from the national government to build the bridge.
09:36The LGU is poor. You can't afford a Mercedes fund.
09:41We can't afford it, ma'am.
09:44Our 20 percent development in the past year was only 20 percent.
09:51We can't afford it.
09:54We asked for help to build the bridge.
10:03How is the situation now?
10:06How is the situation now?
10:09There's a lot of rain.
10:11Is it possible for the bridge to be built even if it rains heavily?
10:16We asked Jessebell again.
10:20He showed us the newly built bridge in their area.
10:24It's so beautiful.
10:27It's high and it can't reach the river.
10:30Jessebell said that the accident happened after he showed it in a reporter's notebook.
10:36It's a miracle.
10:43The local government immediately agreed.
10:47The construction of the bridge was done quickly.
10:51I'm so happy, ma'am.
10:54I'm happy for you too.
10:57The residents are also happy.
11:00It was quick.
11:01Especially now, ma'am.
11:03There's a lot of rain.
11:05If we don't have a bridge, we won't be able to cross the river.
11:10Now, even if the water is flowing, the water is rising.
11:14It's safe to cross the river.
11:17Yes, ma'am.
11:19It's safe.
11:21I'm thankful for your program, ma'am.
11:24For the reporter's notebook, ma'am.
11:26It's about our bridge.
11:29Jessebell is very thankful because their problem has finally been solved.
11:41That's what's bad, ma'am.
11:44We've been waiting for a long time.
11:48There's an answer, ma'am.
11:50A solution.
11:59In this video captured by the residents,
12:02the students were able to cross a hanging bridge in San Miguel, Pulacan
12:07because the water is deep under the bridge.
12:10They were also able to see that the bridge was broken.
12:14And just one mistake,
12:16someone could fall from a 30-foot-deep cliff.
12:22As a student, Christine Joy Blanco,
12:24a freshman in crossing the hanging bridge in Sibol Springs,
12:29is about to enter the school.
12:32Because of the steep steps,
12:35she's slowly and forcefully crossing the hanging bridge.
12:39Sometimes, when the river is deep,
12:43we pass through it.
12:45I just want to tell them to speed up so that they can cross it.
12:50This is all they can do.
12:51This is the only way for her to cross it.
12:54The school will let her in if the water level is high in the Madlum River.
12:58It's broken, ma'am.
13:00We can't cross it.
13:02We'll hold on to it.
13:04We'll hold on to it and walk.
13:06That's why CJ's mother, Crisanta,
13:09can't help but worry whenever her daughter crosses the bridge.
13:12Of course, we're also worried.
13:14What if the electricity goes out?
13:16Sometimes, it's really strong.
13:18Crisanta is showing the situation of the hanging bridge
13:21that is being crossed by her daughter and other residents.
13:28This is the part that is already broken.
13:32It's already moving.
13:37We're going down to the other side.
13:40I just want us to be able to do our job
13:46so that the students won't have a hard time.
13:52Whenever the weather is good,
13:54the residents of the river are able to cross the bridge.
13:57This is the only way for them to cross the bridge.
14:00This is the only way for them to cross the bridge.
14:04This is the only way for them to cross the bridge.
14:06Once upon a time, the residents of the river were able to cross the bridge
14:09using rafts made of wheels and wooden and old drums.
14:15Here, they are riding one by one
14:17with the help of some residents
14:20to cross the river to the town of Doña Remedios, Trinidad, Bulacan.
14:28Alvin is a 12-year-old fisherman.
14:30He is one of the rafters.
14:32This is his way to earn money and help his family.
14:36Sometimes, I sell rice,
14:41rice, sugar, and coffee.
14:44He had several accidents while rafting.
14:48Do you always get hurt?
14:50Yes.
14:52Where did it come from?
14:54I slipped while rafting.
14:57Does it hurt?
14:59Just a little.
15:01Alvin stopped in Grade 1 due to poverty.
15:03It's hard for me.
15:05It's hard for me to afford to buy rice.
15:09I feel sorry for my parents because they are far away.
15:16But whenever he sees his students crossing the river,
15:20I feel jealous.
15:22What do you want to be when you grow up?
15:24A soldier. I want to train in the jungle.
15:27While no one is riding the raft that Alvin is pushing and pulling,
15:33he forgot to work to earn money for the river.
15:44It's 5 p.m. and it's time for CJ to go home.
15:50Alvin will ride the raft to cross the river.
15:57You can do it!
16:00This is the daily routine of the residents to cross the river.
16:07That's why it's a big deal if the hanging bridge can be built.
16:14According to CJ's leader, Mang Alberto,
16:17the hanging bridge was built in 2013.
16:20Motorcycles used to pass through the river.
16:23But after 5 years, it was gradually destroyed.
16:27Motorcycles used to pass through the river.
16:30A typhoon reached the village.
16:33When it started, it was gradually destroyed after 5 or 6 years.
16:41Since then, the bridge has not been built in their area.
16:45There are requests, but our government has not yet approved the request for a concrete bridge.
16:52We tried to get permission from the 3rd District Engineering Office of the Department of Public Works and Highways or DPWH Bulacan.
17:00According to them, there is no fund for the rehabilitation of the hanging bridge.
17:05What our office will do is to include it in our high priority project
17:11that is possible to be funded in the next funding year.
17:15Hopefully, it can be fixed for the benefit of our residents in that location.
17:25Just last month,
17:27reporters were brought to the scene of the hanging bridge in CJ's area.
17:46This is now the hanging bridge.
17:48It is no longer in use.
17:50Residents are able to cross it easily.
17:52Especially the students who are about to enter the school.
17:55Crisanta and I were immediately shown the newly built hanging bridge.
18:00At that time, this was the only way to cross it.
18:05It was destroyed.
18:07When you cross it, it is already broken.
18:11It is already slid.
18:12It is already slid.
18:17Now, we are able to cross it.
18:20It is now new.
18:22It is now safe to cross it.
18:26The bricks are now placed side by side.
18:29It is now safe to cross.
18:30It is now safe to cross.
18:38Crisanta was able to overcome her fear of crossing the bridge.
18:43I am happy because my daughter is not afraid to cross the river when it is deep.
18:51She is safe.
18:52Thank you very much.
18:54We are now able to cross it so that we will not have to cross the bridge again.
19:00I am not afraid.
19:02I want to fix it.
19:04So that everyone can cross it.
19:10Because the hanging bridge is now in use, we were able to cross the river.
19:17We were also able to see Alvin here.
19:19He used to push boats to cross the river.
19:24Now, he does it once or twice a week or whenever the water level in the river rises.
19:31I am not afraid because I don't push boats.
19:35I don't have money.
19:39But she is happy that the hanging bridge is now in use.
19:43I am happy because I can cross the river.
19:46I am happy because the hanging bridge is now in use.
19:50Now that the hanging bridge is in use, do you have any plans to study?
19:53We will study there.
19:56According to the Department of Public Works and Highways or DPWH,
20:00of the more than 4,000 hanging bridges in the country,
20:02more than 2,000 are in good condition.
20:06Almost 2,000 are in fair condition,
20:09while more than 200 are in poor condition.
20:17According to the report released by DPWH last year,
20:21more than 1,200 bridge projects were completed from 2022 to 2024.
20:30This includes the 335 National Bridge Widening,
20:35the construction of 45 National Bridges,
20:39204 National Bridge Rehabilitation or Major Rehabilitation,
20:4468 National Bridge Replacement Projects,
20:48202 National Bridge Retrofitting and Strengthening Projects
20:54and 409 Local Bridge Projects.
20:58According to the data released by the Department of Budget and Management or DBM,
21:03from the P894.2 Billion Pesos funded by DPWH
21:08for the construction of hanging bridges across the country in 2023
21:11it increased by 11.6% or P997.9 Billion Pesos in 2024.
21:19In this fund, P24.8 Billion Pesos was allocated for the bridge program.
21:26The budget for 2025 was reduced to P900 Billion Pesos.
21:32DPWH is requesting a budget of nearly P900 Billion Pesos
21:36which will support our infrastructure programs,
21:39priority projects because we want to invest in the maintenance of national bridges
21:46to make sure of the reliability and structural integrity of this vital infrastructure.
22:10Bridges were destroyed in many places in the country.
22:15For children like CJ and her siblings Daniela and Danlin,
22:20this is the only way to cross the school.
22:25And for others, this also destroyed their livelihood.
22:30That's why in these dangerous times, many lives were lost.
22:36Until next Saturday, I am Mackie Pulido.
22:41I am Jun Veneracion and this is the Reporter's Notebook.