The head of the Third Engineering District of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) called the attention of the public to refrain from posting inaccurate information on social media especially in relation to infrastructure.
This was the appeal of Engr. Magiting Cruz during a radio interview over “Open Forum, Bukas nga Panangsultihay” on Feb. 21, 2023, hosted by Ardy Araneta-Batoy and Dave Albarado.
Cruz clarified that Clarin bridge is safe and passable. The public needs not worry as the bridge remains to be structurally sound.
Cruz aired his statement after posts on social media went viral last weekend, showing that there is a crack traversing the road near the bridge.
Cruz said that the crack is not on the bridge itself but on the approach. He said that a crack on the approach is normal.
He already asked the contractor to fix the problem as this is covered by the bridge’s warranty.
As this developed, he urged the public to refrain from posting inaccurate information that could stir anxiety and confusion among the public.
He said that the DPWH is open to answer questions as the agency is in the best position to tell whether a piece of infrastructure is safe or not.
“Yung ganyang klase po na naririnig o nababasa sa mga social media na hindi maganda po, especially po may kinalaman po ang Department of Public Works and Highways o ang Provincial Engineering Office doon po muna kayo kumuha ng mga impormasyon na nakikita o nababasa ninyo [sa mga autoridad] bago kayo mag react para wala ng kakabakaba o nerbyos ang aabutin ng kababayan po natin,” Cruz said in the interview.
He emphasized that the agency alone can provide the right information as to whether or not a bridge, like the one in Loay town, is safe for passage.
Netizens cautioned people to be careful in using Clarin bridge due to a crack seen at the approach.
Moreover, Cruz said that he spent two days checking the bridge’s integrity and found out the said bridge is safe.
The new Clarin bridge was inaugurated in June 2022 and replaced the old one that collapsed in April 2022.
Around 4 persons died including a foreigner, as a result of the old bridge’s collapse.
The old bridge was set to be replaced by a new one as the former was damaged by the strong earthquake that hit Bohol in 2013.
