Singalat-Bravo Road in Palayan City temporarily unpassable
PALAYAN CITY – The Singalat-Bravo Road that connects this capital city of Nueva Ecija to the adjoining town of General Natividad has been rendered temporarily unpassable after a portion of the road eroded due to the strong water current emerging from the Atate Dam.
The boundary arch of General Natividad at the opposite side in Bgy. Bravo also cracked and fell on the ground, along with several electric poles lining the street beside it, which also blocked the road.
Also damaged due to the rising and strong water current was the dam’s symbolic icon and retaining walls, said engineer Elenita L. Toquero, division manager of National Irrigation Administration-Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems Division III.
Due to the continuous heavy rains spawned by typhoon Carina and habagat, as early as July 26, the NIA-UPRIIS Division 3 had already issued an advisory that all types of vehicles are prohibited from passing through Atate Dam (Bgy. Singalat, Palayan City- Brgy. Bravo, Gen. Natividad Road) and to use alternative routes to avoid any accidents or inconvenience.
“Nangyare kasi yun kahapon (Tuesday) mga 6:30 ng umaga, gumuho ang lupa doon at nagkaroon kami agad ng aksiyon doon, kasama ang municipal engineer ng General Natividad at ng Palayan City saka ang aming department manager, engineer Gertrudes Viado, at ang mayor ng General Natividad,” Toquero told the Journal Group in an interview yesterday.
“Napagkaisahan namin na tatambakan ang kalsada na hindi madaanan, at kahapon nag-offer si Palayan vice mayor na dun na kukuha ng mga bato at ang mga truck na gagamitin ay manggagaling sa kapitolyo at sa NIA-UPRIIS, at sa General Natividad,” added Toquero.
The NIA-UPRIIS Division 3 chief explained that they had already made an initial repair amounting to about P50-million for the damaged dam structure and the amount is expected to increase with the dam’s damaged retaining walls to be included in the updated program of works.
“May una na kaming nagawang program of works submitted na sa central office sa halagang P50-M pero ngayon mas lalaki iyon kasi ang haba ng nasirang retaining wall namin at gagamitan pa ito ng sheath piles,” said Toquero.
