The residents of Barangay Kapitolyo, Pasig City, are opposing the plan to build a bridge that would adversely affect traffic in their community.
“Phase 1 of the said Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) project envisions a bridge from Sta. Monica Street in Kapitolyo, Pasig City, to Lawton Avenue, Makati. Phase 2 will run from Lawton to the BGC viaduct, then from Shaw Boulevard to the Sta. Monica viaduct,” reports Vanessa B. Hidalgo in Philippine Daily Inquirer.
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The big picture: The bridge project would cross Pasig River to connect Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in the Taguig-Makati area and Ortigas Center in Pasig.
Barangay Kapitolyo chair Noel Pajara explained why they’re not keen on the project: “Why do we oppose it? As you can see, Kapitolyo is a residential area. If they build the bridge, traffic will worsen and the residents’ security will be at risk.”
The report noted: “According to Pajara, the proposed bridge was conceived during the time of then Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chair Bayani Fernando. It was shelved, he recalled, but resurfaced again in December 2013.”
Pajara went on to reveal, “We received a notice from DPWH that they will go ahead with the construction of the bridge. We were shocked by the news. So we sought the intervention of [Pasig City] Mayor Maribel Eusebio regarding this matter.”
The report said that “a public consultation attended by Eusebio, DPWH officials and Kapitolyo residents was held two weeks ago in which the mayor suggested an alternative route.”
Eusebio’s suggested that “instead of passing through Kapitolyo from Barangay Pineda, the bridge should be diverted to Pasig Boulevard, according to her proposal.”
Pajara noted that “diverting the bridge to Pasig Boulevard would be more economical for the government.” For one, he said they “would have less right of way problems if they use Pasig Boulevard instead. They can pass through the riverside which is not a residential area like Kapitolyo.”
Photo: Barrio Kapitolyo is popular for its small and independent eateries
