HERMOSA, Bataan — Motorists criticized what they called an alleged “abandoned” or “half-baked” construction of the P120 million bridge being implemented by the regional office of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Barangay Palihan for leaving behind the incomplete project that was apparently left by the contractor.

Aside from the monstrous traffic jam it is creating daily along the busy highway here, motorists have also been complaining about the state of their vehicles that are gradually destroyed due to the almost impassable rough road approach of the bridge.

“Para kang dumaan sa kabundukan kapag dumaan ka dito sa tulay na ito dahil naglilitawan ang mga malalaking bato sa gitna ng daan, nakakasira pa ng sasakyan dahil sa umano’y kapabayaan ng DPWH at kontraktor nito,” said former board member Lita Reyes.

The construction of the new bridge was designed to supposedly ease the severe flooding along the ricefields of Dinalupihan and Hermosa towns.

Under the scheme, the DPWH will construct a diversion channel under the bridge where the floodwaters can flow down the Almacen River, a major tributary waterway going to the Manila Bay.

As a result, floods here had reportedly become more terrible in the past few rainy days since the project was left hanging, while the ricefields had virtually become a deep sea.

Acting District Engineer Rey Macalinao of the DPWH’s 1st engineering district, said, however, that bridge’s approach, which is the subject of the motorists' complaints, is somehow being maintained by them despite the lack and non-allocation of fund for it.

“Hanggang grader lang kami dahil wala namang ibinigay na pondo na dapat sana ay manggagaling sa bagong itinayong tulay,” said Macalinao.

But the sudden construction of the bridge has raised more questions than answer since the DPWH regional office allegedly rushed its construction despite the unsettled problem of the “right of way” among the owners whose ricefields will be used as diversion channel of the project.