Mayor Greg Gasataya and City Engineer’s Office (CEO) representatives inspected the newly rehabilitated footbridge connecting Barangay Singcang-Airport and Barangay 35 on Monday, September 14.
Gasataya highlighted the structural reliability of the project, which benefits thousands of daily commuters, particularly students traveling to nearby downtown schools, a press release from the Bacolod City Communications Office said.
“The structure is crucial for residents here. Based on the assessment of the City Engineer’s Office, it can withstand up to 20 years. The funds allocated upon the request of residents will definitely benefit both Barangay Singcang-Airport and Barangay 35,” Gasataya said.
The mayor was welcomed by City Councilor and former Punong Barangay Caesar Distrito, current Barangay Singcang-Airport Punong Barangay Rosinie Distrito, and local residents holding signs of appreciation.
“It’s no longer dangerous for children to cross. You can even run or spend time here at night,” said Elsa Dinsay, a resident of Purok 5 in Barangay Singcang-Airport.
“We are deeply thankful to the city for this project. I hope those who scrutinize this footbridge take time to ask questions so they can understand its value, because we residents deeply appreciate how much it benefits us,” resident Joel Abquilan said.
The 50-meter-long, 1.5-meter-wide footbridge replaces a high-risk, makeshift bamboo structure previously used by the community. Construction began in March 2026 following repeated requests from safety-concerned residents.
“The dilapidated state of the old bridge posed a serious public risk. Former Mayor Albee Benitez allocated the initial funding, which was subsequently implemented and completed under Mayor Gasataya’s administration,” Distrito said.
Addressing queries regarding project costs, Project Engineer Julio Belleza of the CEO confirmed that the ₱3.7-million budget went through a strict public bidding and procurement process.
“To guarantee long-term structural integrity, the scope of work included epoxy resin grouting for retrofitting, concrete recasting, steel reinforcement, and the complete restoration of safety handrails,” Belleza stated.
Gasataya further challenged critics to evaluate the project firsthand.
“Come assess and evaluate it yourselves. We rely on the expertise of the City Engineer’s Office rather than unqualified individuals claiming to be engineers,” the mayor added.
Despite criticisms, the mayor emphasized that the rehabilitated footbridge directly addresses community needs and delivers lasting improvements to the barangays, the press release said.*
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