A bridge project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) that will serve an important role in the mobility of goods and people and provide greater access to the tourism sites of Bohol Province is targeted to open this first half of 2022.
In his project briefing to Sec. Roger G. Mercado, Undersecretary and Build Build Build Chief Implementer Emil K. Sadain reported that construction of new Clarin Bridge along the Bohol Circumferential Road is at 82% to date and is targeted to be completed before the term of Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte ends in June 2022.
The new two-lane Clarin Bridge will replace the old bridge damaged during the Bohol earthquake in 2013.
Mercado together with Sadain, Region 7 Director Edgar Tabacon, and other department officials had an actual visual impression of the project progress with an aerial inspection on Jan. 5, 2022 in Loay, Bohol on-board military chopper while enroute to one of Typhoon “Odette’s” hardest-hit areas in the town of Trinidad for a meeting with Bohol LGUs headed by Gov. Arthur C. Yap and to hand over DPWH assistance for the severely affected people of the province.
Sadain, in-charge of Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Operations implementing large-scale infrastructure projects of the department under Official Development Assistance (ODA), has instructed Rose Lao of contractor Vicente T. Lao Construction in partnership with Indonesia’s PT Wijaya Karya to expedite the construction of approach roads of the main bridge.
Sadain also reminded that at this stage of pandemic, slowing down construction activities and causing project critical delay, health and safety risk assessments of every worker needs to be conducted regularly consistent with medical and government guidelines, and contractors’ duty to provide a safe working environment.
According to UPMO Roads Management Cluster 1 Project Manager Francisco Sawali, the new bridge crossing Loboc River is designed as a Nielsen Arch bridge spanning 104 meters with an approach roads at Abutment “A” of 206 meters and at Abutment “B” of 271 meters.
The Clarin Bridge spans the Loboc River, a major tourism destination and also offers alternate route to Bohol's Billar man-made forest as well as conservation areas for tarsiers and butterflies.
Prior to COVID-19 pandemic, Bohol known for its Chocolate Hills, tarsiers, and pristine beaches, is among the most visited destinations of domestic and international tourists.
The Clarin Bridge Replacement Project costing ₱462-M is part of the Bohol Circumferential Road Contract Package 3 under the DPWH Road Upgrading and Preservation Projects (RUPP) funded through Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Loan Agreement No. PH-P247. (PR)
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