TO PREVENT SUICIDES
A resolution lobbying for the installation of tall razor barbed fences at two bridges connecting mainland Cebu and Mactan Island had been addressed to the Mandaue City government for consideration.
Provincial Board (PB) Member Victoria Corominas–Toribio said the fences along with a safety catch net system can prevent people from jumping off the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge and the Marcelo Fernan Bridge.
“Daghan nang nagsagunson (There were many) incidents of people making attempts to take their own lives by jumping off the bridges,” she told reporters yesterday.
The latest occurred last June 30 when a 19-year-old girl jumped off the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge.
“Suicides could be prevented if we have safety measures we can put in place to discourage them,” said Toribio, who authored the resolution.
Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III, who chairs the Mactan Cebu Bridge Management Board (MCBMB), agreed with the proposal.
“We cannot restrain someone who is contemplating suicide. Dili ta kahibaw sa dagan sa ilang hunahuna (We do not know what they have in mind),” Davide said.
“The Mandaue City government can come up with some aesthetic design on the fences. It all depends if they will heed to our request,” Toribio said.