The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Team has safely transported a total of 2,497 passengers across the Tarlac River in Tarlac City on September 26 and 27.
The team transported 1,456 passengers on September 26 and another 1,041 passengers on September 27, using motorized rubber boats, life vests and a 100-meter pontoon bridge equipped with bamboo handrails.
The operation was carried out pursuant to the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to ensure the safety of students and workers who cross the river daily while repairs continue on the portion of the Aquino Bridge that collapsed in August.
The temporary crossing provides an alternative route for residents and commuters traveling to and from the western side of Tarlac City while rehabilitation of the damaged bridge is ongoing.
Aquino Bridge partially collapsed on August 28 after strong currents in the Tarlac River, brought by heavy rains and the southwest monsoon, washed away a central concrete pier. The bridge is used daily by an estimated 13,400 people and vehicles.
The Agana Bridge, which had been used as an alternative route following the Aquino Bridge collapse, was also partially damaged the following day, August 29, amid continued heavy rains and strong river currents.
To restore access, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) constructed a temporary Bailey Bridge at the damaged portion of the Agana Bridge. The structure opened to pedestrians and light vehicles on September 23, about three weeks after the collapse.
The Bailey Bridge has a 10-ton maximum load limit and a 20-kilometer-per-hour speed limit. Buses, trailer trucks, dump trucks, fuel trucks and concrete mixers are prohibited from using the temporary structure.
Meanwhile, permanent repairs to the damaged bridges remain ongoing. President Marcos earlier announced that the national government would provide around ₱300 million to the Tarlac City government for the repair of the Aquino and Agana bridges, with the national government also providing technical assistance.
With the Aquino Bridge still requiring rehabilitation, the MMDA's pontoon bridge and boat operations provide an additional temporary crossing for residents, particularly students and workers who regularly travel between the two sides of the Tarlac River.
