• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A proposed P250-million bridge connecting Barangays Macagahay and Montilla in Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental has moved a step closer to reality after technical personnel from the Office of Civil Defense- Negros Island Region (OCD-NIR) recently conducted a site inspection at the damaged spillway area.
The inspection was led by OCD-NIR Regional Director Donato Sermeno III, who personally assessed the critical access route in Barangay Macagahay that sustained heavy damage when Typhoon Tino struck on Nov. 4, 2025.
The old overflow structure, which served as a vital link between the two barangays, was washed out during the typhoon, creating major challenges for residents, farmers, and motorists, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall and flooding.
The inspection forms part of the preliminary assessment of the OCD-NIR for the proposed permanent bridge project, which is being pushed by the local government to restore safe and reliable access for affected communities.
The request for the bridge was earlier raised by Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo directly to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during the latter’s visit to the municipality following the devastation brought by the typhoon.
Joining Sermeno during the inspection were Macagahay village chief Bernabe Eustanio, representatives from the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, and Municipal Engineer Agnes Glia Mabag.
The findings from the inspection will form part of the technical documentation needed for the project’s validation and evaluation by the national government. | GB
