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BRIDGE OF SIGH
This is the latest picture of the Presidential Bridge at barangay Ilawod in Caramoan, Camarines Sur which will connect the famous Gota Beach to the town proper, about six kilometers away. Supposed to be completed in April 2006. the infrastructure may again be delayed like other Caramoan government projects because the contractor, unable to pay laborers for three months, has left the site. |
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Construction of much-awaited Presidential Bridge at barangay Ilawod in Caramoan, Camarines Sur which would link world-class tourism potential Gota Beach to the town proper has completely stopped and the contractor, Werr Construction International, is nowhere in the vicinity.
The vital project whose materials coming yet from the Austrian government were transported from Mindanao to Caramoan to accelerate the tourism development program of the Camarines Sur provincial government was supposed to be completed on April 6 this year. However, present accomplishment is placed by knowledgeable engineers at only 40% and it is held very unlikely that the bridge could be completed in time for the town fiesta on May 7 to 8.
Mayor Francis Benemerito said the contractor appears to be encountering financial difficulties in implementing the project as project laborers have been complaining that they have not been paid their wages for three months now.
One truck owned by the contractor, said to be Roger Cas, was even partially burned two weeks ago, possibly by irate workers unable to get their wages badly needed by their families.
Werr Construction International has a contract with the Camarines Sur provincial government for P10 million to finish the bridge project which is estimated to have a total value of around P30 million. But it is not known whether the contractor has been able to collect from provincial government for the completed portion of the bridge project.
The Ilawod bridge is actually just the first tourism-related infrastructure in Caramoan of the provincial government which has vowed to vigorously pursue the tourism development program for Caramoan. The town has more than a dozen fabulous beaches and exotic islets which have been tagged as even better than the world-famous Boracay in Aklan province.
Mainly in support also of the tourism thrust, the Caramoan Residents Association in Naga City and its Environs (CRANE) petitioned in 2005 President Macapagal Arroyo to cause the completion of the Presentacion-Caramoan coastal road to shorten travel time to Caramoan by one and a half hours.
Government leaders led by Congressman Luis R. Villafuerte, Gov. L-Ray Vilafuerte, Catanduanes Gov. Leandro Verceles and the private sector, notably all Bicol bishops and the Camarines Sur Chamber of Commerce and Industry backed the petition.
President Arroyo granted the petition and allocated P250 million to be released in staggered basis.
