Students and residents are struggling to cross Bonbon River, which connects Barangays Luca and Lamesa in Balamban, Cebu, following several days of rain.
A video shared by Gerald John Sasing on Thursday, Oct. 15, showed students holding hands as they crossed the river. Residents were also seen helping one another carry their motorcycles to the opposite bank.
Cebu Gov. Pamela Baricuatro said the previous bidding for the permanent bridge and road repair project failed after the winning contractor was blacklisted by the Commission on Audit (COA).
The project is scheduled for another bidding process on Nov. 19.
While awaiting the next bidding, Baricuatro instructed the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) to coordinate with the Balamban disaster management office to help ensure the safety of people crossing the river.
The video showed the challenges faced by students and residents traveling between the two barangays, particularly after several days of rain.
The permanent bridge and road repair project remains pending as authorities prepare for the new bidding process.
In the meantime, the provincial and municipal disaster management offices are expected to coordinate safety measures for those who need to cross Bonbon River.
The Nov. 19 bidding is the next scheduled step for the delayed infrastructure project. Until then, students and residents continue to face difficulties crossing the river while waiting for a permanent bridge.
