Aguioas hanging bridge eases life in Naguilian

By Miriaflor Rimando

Thursday 28th of June 2012

NAGUILIAN, La Union, June 28 (PIA) -- The Aguioas hanging bridge has eased access to basic needs and services for 238 families living in Naguilian.

Formally inaugurated this June, the 91 meter-long bridge is made of steel, cable, and cyclone wires.

After tropical storms Ondoy and Pepeng damaged infrastructure and livelihoods in 2009, residents in the area had to swim or use bamboo rafts to cross the Burgos River, which had a maximum water level of 3.5 meters.

Through the support from the local government unit of Naguilian, the Philippine Red Cross - La Union Chapter and International Federation of the Red Cross, the hanging bridge, which connects barangays Aguioas and Ribsuan, was constructed for residents to have easy access to the town and basic services like schools, church, facilities, business establishments, and market places in the poblacion.

The bridge is of great help to the residents since this is the only way of going to the national road and to the market.

“The people, especially children, will no longer take a risk by swimming in the wide river or crossing it by bamboo raft. They will no longer fear of being isolated when there is a massive flood brought about by typhoon,” PRC secretary general Gwendolyn Pang said during the inauguration of the bridge.

“What happened during Ondoy will not happen again for as long as the community and the PRC will continue to monitor the welfare use of the bridge,” she assured.

PRC Chairman and CEO Richard Gordon, PRC Secretary General Gwendolyn Pang and IFRC Head of Delegation Selvaratnam Sinnadurai visited barangay Aguioas to inaugurate the hanging bridge on June 16. (ANL/MBR-PIA 1, La Union)