Canlas: MCWD has until Friday to secure pipelines under old bridge

The Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) risks losing their excavation permits if they fail to install pipeline support for their water lines located under the old Mandaue Mactan Bridge by Friday.

Engr. Ador Canals, Central Visayas director of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), said MCWD has not covered the pipes and installed supporting brace, causing delay on the bridge repair which started on Monday.

He said the exposed water pipes located under the bridge should be covered so these would not be damaged when Jegma Construction started repairing the bridge’s dilapidated deck slabs.

While waiting for MCWD to cover the pipes, Jegma shifted repair works on the bridge’s sidewalks on Tuesday.

But Canlas stressed that they cannot afford to delay the rehabilitation of the bridge, which connects Cebu to Mactan Island.

MCWD pipes placed under the old bridge supplies 12, 000 cubic meters of water to Mactan Island were Lapulapu City and Cordova town are located.

The water district supplies about 60 percent of Lapu-Lapu City’s water demand. Canlas said they have been asking MCWD to install pipe line support since November 2015 but the water district wanted Jegma Construction to be the one to do the work.

Charmaine Kara, MCWD spokesperson, said they were told only on Tuesday that the contractor was not capable to install the necessary pipeline support.

If MCWD would install the pipeline support, she added, it would take eight months before the project could be bidded out. But Kara said MCWD engineers were meeting to discuss the matter.