PARACELIS 05-03-06

	Nordis Weekly, March 6, 2005
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Metal scavengers cause Paracelis Bridge collapse
PARACELIS, Mt. Province (Mar. 3) — A 20-meter bailey bridge along the Pontian stretch of the Alfonso Lista – Tabuk national road in this eastern municipality collapsed on Feb. 19 when a 10-wheeler truck fully loaded with 15 tons of G.I pipes belonging to the local government was half way across the bridge. It was immediately suspected that the cause of the breakdown was due to overcapacity. The bridge only has a 10-ton capacity. However, PLERM Construction, Inc., a construction firm engaged in road works in the area few years ago, installed several H-beam reinforcements to temporarily boost the capacity of the bridge and withstand passing heavy loaded trucks. Leonardo Leyaley, District Engineer (DE) of the Mt. Province District Engineer’s Office (MPDEO) told media that a team of road maintenance engineers investigated the cause of the breakdown. They found out that the H-reinforcement beams installed by PLERM were missing and it was evident that said beams were removed using acetylene torch - a handiwork of “metal scavengers.” The indiscriminate removal of the H-beam rendered the bridge incapable of holding heavy loads. “It has also strained and lessened the maximum strength of the bridge component where the H-beam was formerly attached,” explained a materials engineer. Observers noted that there would have been loss of limbs or death and injuries had the bridge collapsed at a time when a passenger vehicle was passing. According to the OIC-PNP Provincial Director, Sr. Supt. Viteno, the case is still under follow-up and investigation In other related stealing of road facility installations, the DE reported that various metal road materials were stolen. According to Engr. Leyaley, on November 9, 2004, various components of the Baybay Bridge in Talubin, Bontoc were hauled by unidentified robbers. On December 24, 2004, a total of 75 pieces of guard rails were also stolen along the Paracelis-Natonin-Barlig-Talubin national road. Some of the guard rails were found by the DPWH engineers in the custody of a certain J. Anilom of Lunas Barlig. Allegedy, said materials were sold by suspects from Purag, Banao, Natonin. # Joseph C. Pangket for NORDIS
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	Nordis Weekly, March 6, 2005
Home \| To bottom	Previous \| Next
Metal scavengers cause Paracelis Bridge collapse
PARACELIS, Mt. Province (Mar. 3) — A 20-meter bailey bridge along the Pontian stretch of the Alfonso Lista – Tabuk national road in this eastern municipality collapsed on Feb. 19 when a 10-wheeler truck fully loaded with 15 tons of G.I pipes belonging to the local government was half way across the bridge. It was immediately suspected that the cause of the breakdown was due to overcapacity. The bridge only has a 10-ton capacity. However, PLERM Construction, Inc., a construction firm engaged in road works in the area few years ago, installed several H-beam reinforcements to temporarily boost the capacity of the bridge and withstand passing heavy loaded trucks. Leonardo Leyaley, District Engineer (DE) of the Mt. Province District Engineer’s Office (MPDEO) told media that a team of road maintenance engineers investigated the cause of the breakdown. They found out that the H-reinforcement beams installed by PLERM were missing and it was evident that said beams were removed using acetylene torch - a handiwork of “metal scavengers.” The indiscriminate removal of the H-beam rendered the bridge incapable of holding heavy loads. “It has also strained and lessened the maximum strength of the bridge component where the H-beam was formerly attached,” explained a materials engineer. Observers noted that there would have been loss of limbs or death and injuries had the bridge collapsed at a time when a passenger vehicle was passing. According to the OIC-PNP Provincial Director, Sr. Supt. Viteno, the case is still under follow-up and investigation In other related stealing of road facility installations, the DE reported that various metal road materials were stolen. According to Engr. Leyaley, on November 9, 2004, various components of the Baybay Bridge in Talubin, Bontoc were hauled by unidentified robbers. On December 24, 2004, a total of 75 pieces of guard rails were also stolen along the Paracelis-Natonin-Barlig-Talubin national road. Some of the guard rails were found by the DPWH engineers in the custody of a certain J. Anilom of Lunas Barlig. Allegedy, said materials were sold by suspects from Purag, Banao, Natonin. # Joseph C. Pangket for NORDIS
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