00:00Oh my God, help me!
00:11Projects that were supposed to continue for the residents to go to school and use for their livelihood.
00:21But they were destroyed and not saved.
00:25In the town of Mercedes, Camarinas Norte,
00:29a video was captured of students crossing the river while the water was flowing.
00:38A few moments later, the two students lost their balance and were quickly swept away by the water.
00:50Then, another child was swept away.
00:58Hurry, hurry!
01:01In the distance, the three students could hardly be seen due to the force of the water.
01:06Hurry, hurry!
01:09The force of the water was so strong that they were carried to the other side.
01:18This hanging bridge in San Miguel, Bulacan,
01:20was also used by students like Christine Joy whenever the force of the water was strong in the river.
01:29It was destroyed.
01:31We couldn't cross the river.
01:33We were carried to the other side.
01:35We were tied up and then we were swept away.
01:37A wrong step could cause the water to fall into the deep and become flooded.
01:45Of course, we were also worried that the water might flood the river.
01:51In another visit of the Reporter's Notebook in Mangatulay,
01:57what will we encounter?
01:59We insisted for a long time that there should be an answer, that there should be a solution.
02:04Because of the force of the rain, this river flooded the Mercedez Camarines Norte.
02:20The small road to cross to the other side was flooded with water.
02:26They couldn't cross it.
02:28At that time,
02:29the students, Narena Rose, Daniela, and her brother, Danilin, were on their way home from school.
02:37That's why they had to cross the river.
02:41But while the water in the river was flooding,
02:44they didn't expect what would happen next.
02:49Narena Rose and Daniela quickly crossed the river.
02:53Oh my God! There's a flood!
02:55Then, Danilin followed.
02:57There's a flood!
02:59Hurry!
03:01Oh my God!
03:03There's a flood!
03:05Hurry!
03:11Two days after the incident,
03:14the Reporter's Notebook went to Barangay Pambuhan in Mercedez Camarines Norte.
03:19It's getting stronger. It's getting stronger.
03:22According to Jessibel Dayulena, one of the people who filmed the incident,
03:27she immediately ran to the river when she heard that there were students who were watching the water flood.
03:35Oh my God! There's a flood!
03:37This is when she found out that the three students were her neighbors.
03:42Hurry!
03:44Oh my God!
03:45Hurry!
03:47This is when the water flooded.
03:49It was in the middle of the river.
03:51This is when it got stronger.
03:55They were able to get to that point.
03:58They were able to get to that point.
04:03It was a bit far.
04:05The people here couldn't avoid crossing the river because there was no other way.
04:12According to Jessibel,
04:14this river is already known to be dangerous whenever the weather is bad.
04:18Even if it's just a little rain, it immediately floods and floods their roads.
04:24Especially when the rain is in a part of the mountain, it suddenly floods.
04:30The Reporter's Notebook also went to the house of the students who were watching the river.
04:35Some of the school supplies were even left outside their house.
04:41This is where we found out that the students Rena Rose, Daniela, and her brother, Danny Lin, were saved.
04:49It was in the middle of the river.
04:52It was in the middle of the river.
04:55We were inside the house when the water suddenly flooded.
05:03My sister was saved and I was also saved.
05:08Oh my God! There's a flood!
05:09Oh my God! There's a flood!
05:11Hurry!
05:13I'm scared. I don't want to go down there.
05:17I feel like I'm going to die there.
05:21Hurry!
05:23It's good that they were saved immediately by some residents who are looking for life in the river.
05:28According to one of the rescuers, he didn't hesitate to jump into the river to save the children.
05:34I saw that they fell, so I ran.
05:38When I ran, I slipped, so I jumped to catch them.
05:43The mother of Daniela and Danny Lin was worried about the news that her children were in an accident.
05:50I was so scared. There were two of them.
05:53When you saw them, you were saved.
05:56I can't explain how it happened.
05:58I just thanked God and the two of them were saved.
06:05The reporter's notebook also learned that there used to be a bridge in Barangay Pambuhan.
06:10But the problem is that it was cut off in 2019 due to the heavy rain.
06:16Since then, the residents have not had a safe crossing whenever the river floods.
06:23This is what the old bridge was made of.
06:26It was just a passageway for people to cross.
06:29But in 2019, when the other side of the bridge was cut off,
06:36the barangay told us that there's a budget for it.
06:44I just don't know when.
06:47To be honest, there's a small road next to the broken bridge.
06:52However, whenever the river floods, the road is cut off.
06:56That's why the residents are still forced to cross it even though it's dangerous.
07:00Hey! Don't run! Hurry!
07:04The problem with that bridge has been going on for a long time.
07:08There's always a promise.
07:10There's always an election.
07:13There's always a promise.
07:15Should we wait for something to happen again?
07:16I still hope that this accident won't happen again.
07:23I hope that no one will follow this.
07:26Next to the broken bridge,
07:28there's a marked tarpaulin with the details of a bridge project.
07:35This is what's marked next to the broken bridge.
07:39This is the project description.
07:41It says that the implementing agency is DPWH Camarinas Norte
07:46and the cost is P35 million.
07:50The barangay captain is saying that the project will be completed by the end of February.
07:56But until now, no one has started the project.
08:00The barangay captain said that they have approached the municipal and provincial government several times to ask for the project.
08:07We've already made a lot of resolutions to give us the project.
08:11If only the barangay budget allows it, I've been doing it for a long time.
08:13We don't stop to ask for help.
08:18That's why I'm still alive inside.
08:21Last week, they told me that by the end of February, the project will be completed.
08:30In January 2024, the reporter's notebook released the video of a flood
08:37of students crossing a muddy road in the town of Mercedes Camarinas Norte.
08:43When we brought it to the local government of Camarinas,
08:47just a month later, the rehabilitation of the bridge started immediately.
08:51P35 million was the amount allocated for this project.
08:55And it was only in September 2024 that the bridge was completed.
09:00In the past, it was a small road above the river where the residents cross.
09:06Now, the bridge is cemented and it is safe to cross even if the water level in the river is high.
09:14Motorcycles and vehicles can also cross it.
09:19The fund came from the General Appropriations Act or GAAC.
09:24We asked the mayor of the town to approve the construction of the bridge.
09:29It seems that the LGU also asked for help from the national government to build the bridge.
09:36The LGU is poor. You can't afford a Mercedes fund.
09:41We can't afford it, ma'am.
09:44Our 20 percent development in the past year was only 20 percent.
09:51We can't afford it.
09:54We asked for help to build the bridge.
10:03How is the situation now?
10:06How is the situation now?
10:09There's a lot of rain.
10:11Is it possible for the bridge to be built even if it rains heavily?
10:16We asked Jessebell again.
10:20He showed us the newly built bridge in their area.
10:24It's so beautiful.
10:27It's high and it can't reach the river.
10:30Jessebell said that the accident happened after he showed it in a reporter's notebook.
10:36It's a miracle.
10:43The local government immediately agreed.
10:47The construction of the bridge was done quickly.
10:51I'm so happy, ma'am.
10:54I'm happy for you too.
10:57The residents are also happy.
11:00It was quick.
11:01Especially now, ma'am.
11:03There's a lot of rain.
11:05If we don't have a bridge, we won't be able to cross the river.
11:10Now, even if the water is flowing, the water is rising.
11:14It's safe to cross the river.
11:17Yes, ma'am.
11:19It's safe.
11:21I'm thankful for your program, ma'am.
11:24For the reporter's notebook, ma'am.
11:26It's about our bridge.
11:29Jessebell is very thankful because their problem has finally been solved.
11:41That's what's bad, ma'am.
11:44We've been waiting for a long time.
11:48There's an answer, ma'am.
11:50A solution.
11:59In this video captured by the residents,
12:02the students were able to cross a hanging bridge in San Miguel, Pulacan
12:07because the water is deep under the bridge.
12:10They were also able to see that the bridge was broken.
12:14And just one mistake,
12:16someone could fall from a 30-foot-deep cliff.
12:22As a student, Christine Joy Blanco,
12:24a freshman in crossing the hanging bridge in Sibol Springs,
12:29is about to enter the school.
12:32Because of the steep steps,
12:35she's slowly and forcefully crossing the hanging bridge.
12:39Sometimes, when the river is deep,
12:43we pass through it.
12:45I just want to tell them to speed up so that they can cross it.
12:50This is all they can do.
12:51This is the only way for her to cross it.
12:54The school will let her in if the water level is high in the Madlum River.
12:58It's broken, ma'am.
13:00We can't cross it.
13:02We'll hold on to it.
13:04We'll hold on to it and walk.
13:06That's why CJ's mother, Crisanta,
13:09can't help but worry whenever her daughter crosses the bridge.
13:12Of course, we're also worried.
13:14What if the electricity goes out?
13:16Sometimes, it's really strong.
13:18Crisanta is showing the situation of the hanging bridge
13:21that is being crossed by her daughter and other residents.
13:28This is the part that is already broken.
13:32It's already moving.
13:37We're going down to the other side.
13:40I just want us to be able to do our job
13:46so that the students won't have a hard time.
13:52Whenever the weather is good,
13:54the residents of the river are able to cross the bridge.
13:57This is the only way for them to cross the bridge.
14:00This is the only way for them to cross the bridge.
14:04This is the only way for them to cross the bridge.
14:06Once upon a time, the residents of the river were able to cross the bridge
14:09using rafts made of wheels and wooden and old drums.
14:15Here, they are riding one by one
14:17with the help of some residents
14:20to cross the river to the town of Doña Remedios, Trinidad, Bulacan.
14:28Alvin is a 12-year-old fisherman.
14:30He is one of the rafters.
14:32This is his way to earn money and help his family.
14:36Sometimes, I sell rice,
14:41rice, sugar, and coffee.
14:44He had several accidents while rafting.
14:48Do you always get hurt?
14:50Yes.
14:52Where did it come from?
14:54I slipped while rafting.
14:57Does it hurt?
14:59Just a little.
15:01Alvin stopped in Grade 1 due to poverty.
15:03It's hard for me.
15:05It's hard for me to afford to buy rice.
15:09I feel sorry for my parents because they are far away.
15:16But whenever he sees his students crossing the river,
15:20I feel jealous.
15:22What do you want to be when you grow up?
15:24A soldier. I want to train in the jungle.
15:27While no one is riding the raft that Alvin is pushing and pulling,
15:33he forgot to work to earn money for the river.
15:44It's 5 p.m. and it's time for CJ to go home.
15:50Alvin will ride the raft to cross the river.
15:57You can do it!
16:00This is the daily routine of the residents to cross the river.
16:07That's why it's a big deal if the hanging bridge can be built.
16:14According to CJ's leader, Mang Alberto,
16:17the hanging bridge was built in 2013.
16:20Motorcycles used to pass through the river.
16:23But after 5 years, it was gradually destroyed.
16:27Motorcycles used to pass through the river.
16:30A typhoon reached the village.
16:33When it started, it was gradually destroyed after 5 or 6 years.
16:41Since then, the bridge has not been built in their area.
16:45There are requests, but our government has not yet approved the request for a concrete bridge.
16:52We tried to get permission from the 3rd District Engineering Office of the Department of Public Works and Highways or DPWH Bulacan.
17:00According to them, there is no fund for the rehabilitation of the hanging bridge.
17:05What our office will do is to include it in our high priority project
17:11that is possible to be funded in the next funding year.
17:15Hopefully, it can be fixed for the benefit of our residents in that location.
17:25Just last month,
17:27reporters were brought to the scene of the hanging bridge in CJ's area.
17:46This is now the hanging bridge.
17:48It is no longer in use.
17:50Residents are able to cross it easily.
17:52Especially the students who are about to enter the school.
17:55Crisanta and I were immediately shown the newly built hanging bridge.
18:00At that time, this was the only way to cross it.
18:05It was destroyed.
18:07When you cross it, it is already broken.
18:11It is already slid.
18:12It is already slid.
18:17Now, we are able to cross it.
18:20It is now new.
18:22It is now safe to cross it.
18:26The bricks are now placed side by side.
18:29It is now safe to cross.
18:30It is now safe to cross.
18:38Crisanta was able to overcome her fear of crossing the bridge.
18:43I am happy because my daughter is not afraid to cross the river when it is deep.
18:51She is safe.
18:52Thank you very much.
18:54We are now able to cross it so that we will not have to cross the bridge again.
19:00I am not afraid.
19:02I want to fix it.
19:04So that everyone can cross it.
19:10Because the hanging bridge is now in use, we were able to cross the river.
19:17We were also able to see Alvin here.
19:19He used to push boats to cross the river.
19:24Now, he does it once or twice a week or whenever the water level in the river rises.
19:31I am not afraid because I don't push boats.
19:35I don't have money.
19:39But she is happy that the hanging bridge is now in use.
19:43I am happy because I can cross the river.
19:46I am happy because the hanging bridge is now in use.
19:50Now that the hanging bridge is in use, do you have any plans to study?
19:53We will study there.
19:56According to the Department of Public Works and Highways or DPWH,
20:00of the more than 4,000 hanging bridges in the country,
20:02more than 2,000 are in good condition.
20:06Almost 2,000 are in fair condition,
20:09while more than 200 are in poor condition.
20:17According to the report released by DPWH last year,
20:21more than 1,200 bridge projects were completed from 2022 to 2024.
20:30This includes the 335 National Bridge Widening,
20:35the construction of 45 National Bridges,
20:39204 National Bridge Rehabilitation or Major Rehabilitation,
20:4468 National Bridge Replacement Projects,
20:48202 National Bridge Retrofitting and Strengthening Projects
20:54and 409 Local Bridge Projects.
20:58According to the data released by the Department of Budget and Management or DBM,
21:03from the P894.2 Billion Pesos funded by DPWH
21:08for the construction of hanging bridges across the country in 2023
21:11it increased by 11.6% or P997.9 Billion Pesos in 2024.
21:19In this fund, P24.8 Billion Pesos was allocated for the bridge program.
21:26The budget for 2025 was reduced to P900 Billion Pesos.
21:32DPWH is requesting a budget of nearly P900 Billion Pesos
21:36which will support our infrastructure programs,
21:39priority projects because we want to invest in the maintenance of national bridges
21:46to make sure of the reliability and structural integrity of this vital infrastructure.
22:10Bridges were destroyed in many places in the country.
22:15For children like CJ and her siblings Daniela and Danlin,
22:20this is the only way to cross the school.
22:25And for others, this also destroyed their livelihood.
22:30That's why in these dangerous times, many lives were lost.
22:36Until next Saturday, I am Mackie Pulido.
22:41I am Jun Veneracion and this is the Reporter's Notebook.
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