By CESAR JOLITO III
In the wake of the devastating Typhoon “Tino” earlier this month, Moises Padilla Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo has made an urgent plea for national assistance, highlighting the town’s critical need for infrastructure repair, housing relief and relocation support for hundreds of affected residents.
The appeal followed President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s visit on Saturday, November 15, to inspect the damage in the typhoon’s aftermath.
“Our immediate priority is the footbridges, like the one connecting Barangay 1. It is the only way residents can reach the town proper,” Mayor Garcia-Yulo said.
She said many barangays are isolated, and without these bridges, “children cannot attend school, residents cannot access emergency services, and trade is disrupted.”
The mayor stressed that temporary overflow structures are also urgently needed to prevent further hazards.
Garcia-Yulo has submitted formal requests for rebuilding critical hanging bridges and spillways over the Binalbagan River, including crossings connecting Barangays 1 and Inolingan, Sitio Lemoncito, Barangays Guinpana-an and Quintin Remo, Sitio Kabayabasan, and Montilla to Macagahay.
She also requested the realignment of P2.98 million from previous contingency funds for housing assistance and proposed major infrastructure projects totaling over P800 million.
These include a bridge connecting Barangays 1 and Inolingan (P250 million), Barangay Odiong Bridge in Sitio Pucatod (P10 million), a bridge connecting Barangays Montilla and Macagahay to replace washed-out spillway (P250 million), and a relocation site in Barangay Inolingan with site development and housing units (P300 million).
“Constructing permanent, concrete bridges will greatly reduce risks, improve connectivity and enhance the transport of farm produce to markets,” she said.
Bayanihan efforts
Residents have rallied together to construct temporary bamboo footbridges and rafts, recalling techniques from the 1980s and 1990s.
These makeshift structures allow limited passage across rivers, including the transport of motorcycles and essential goods.
Barangays such as Inolingan, Quintin Remo and Macagahay — the town’s largest — remain heavily isolated. Travel to the town proper during rains is extremely difficult.
“This is the first time something like this has happened,” Garcia-Yulo said.
“I cannot give a period for recovery; it depends on the assistance that arrives, especially from President Marcos, who has the authority and resources to prioritize our proposals. We are confident that his support will help our town recover,” she added./CJ, WDJ