Maasin City, Southen Leyte - A slightly drunk motorcycle driver has slid as he passed on a slippery bridge in Brgy. Canturing on October 17, 2008 while he is on his way home to the adjacent town of Macrohon.

The victim was identified as Noel B. Tan, 33 years old, single, resident of Brgy. Laray, Macrohon, Southern Leyte. In an interview at the provincial hospital, he disclosed that he and his friend known only as Cherry Boy were having some liquor drinks in Brgy. Laboon, Maasin City, about 15 kilometers away from the city. He said he was only slightly drunk and not heavily drunk because they have limited their order to a manageable level.

At about 10:00 PM, he said, he brought his friend to his residence in Brgy. Batuan, more than 10 kilometers away from Maasin, passing the ?Tulay ng Pangulo?? in Brgy. Canturing. On his way back to the city, bound for home, he narrated, he decided to pass on the same bridge for a shorter route to save travel time.

As he passed the bridge, he said, he suddenly skidded and has forgotten what happened next. When he regained his consciousness at dawn, he continued, he was already at the hospital. The victim claimed several firemen who happened to pass by in Canturing bridge were the ones who brought him to the hospital.

Tan sustained some injuries. A big wound has nearly hit his right eye now looked partly red and some bruises below his face. His head however, with a slight injury was spared from brain damaged. His right hand had swollen, but no fractured bone.. His right ear was cut and has entailed five stitches.

Many Victims

The bridge has reportedly victimized many motorcycle drivers including multicabs since it was opened to the riding public about 2 years ago. It was claimed that the victims were either drunks or teetotalers who were not familiar with the bridge?s condition and were running in high speed. “Everytime the bridge becomes slippery caused either by rain or moisture formations on the bridge steel floorings“, a concerned citizen said, ?it is not selective whom to victimize, particularly if the driver is reckless and careless and is unfamiliar with the true condition of the bridge?.

Police Traffic Officer Donato Cervantes revealed that there were only 4 reported incidents of slides in Canturing Bridge to his office. He explained that those unreported accidents of slides might have no licenses to drive so that they refrain from reporting it.

?If in some places of the country the ‘Tulay ng Pangulo’ projects have the same kind of steel flooring materials, then there?s a great possibility that there were already numerous victims of slides in other provinces as well?, said another source.

A motorist who is familiar with the bridge?s true condition said that the warning sign ?Bridge Slippery When Wet? must be placed 25 meters away from it and not very near the bridge. ?Putting the warning sign very near to the bridge would not make any driver aware of its true condition. Because applying a break on a speeding vehicle at the very entrance of the bridge would surely victimize the driver for a sudden slide that may injure him/her seriously or break his/her bones?, he said.

The motorist who does not want to be named also informed that the Canturing Bridge would still become slippery even without rain. ?The natural coolness of the area during the night and on cold weather condition is a contributory factor that?s responsible in the moisture formations on the bridge?s steel flooring which causes the slippery of the bridge?.

He advised all the drivers of all vehicles in the city and those in neighboring towns who want to pass by the Canturing bridge to be very careful with their speed and must start slowing down at 25 meters away from it to avoid the abrupt slide upon passing on it, most particularly on rainy days and during the night and early mornings.

Moreover, majority of concerned citizens here have also suggested that the materials used in the Canturing bridge and other ?Tulay ng Pangulo? projects in the country with steel plates floorings be replaced with rough concrete floorings to eradicate, if not to avoid untimely deaths or serious injuries among the victims of unexpected slides. (Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)

About the Contributor:

Mr. Quirico M. Gorpido Jr was an erstwhile Correspondent/Contributor to the following weeklies and dailies: Tacloban-based regional weekly a 33-year-old The Reporter for many years(now defunct), a Cebu-based weekly The Visayan Express(now defunct),Cebu-based daily The Freeman(1994-1998) now a sister publication of The Philippine Star, Maasin-based weekly The Southern Leyte Times for three years, Tacloban-based daily The Leyte Samar Daily Express(2000-2001), Cebu-based daily the Cebu Daily News(2002-2003), Tacloban-based weekly 7-year-old Tribune(2003-2007).