[manilastandardtoday.com ] August 30-31, 2008
Some 160 families living under the 4.8-km Candaba viaduct along the North Luzon Expressway have been warned of the dangers that continue to stalk them unless they are relocated to a safer locality.
This took place during a series of dialogs with the affected families conducted recently by the Manila North Tollways Corp., builder and concessionaire of the 84-km expressway.
MNTC officials, assisted by local barangay leaders, informed the residents that they have no security residing under the viaduct, especially during flashfloods that could inundate the entire communities without warning.
A worse-case scenario would be the collapse of the bridge due to strong earthquakes, possibly burying the hapless residents under tons of concrete and twisted steel.
The MNTC officials noted that the viaduct folk usually keep piles of combustible materials such as hay, scrap woods and dried twigs and branches that could easily catch fire, thus posing serious threats to their own lives.
Recently, a wayward trailer jumped off the viaduct after colliding with a van, then rolled menacingly towards the colony of shanties under the bridge. It stopped short of running over the lean-tos, avoiding injuries or death to the residents.
The dialogs also sought to gather important data that could help draw up a resettlement program for the affected families.
MNTC officials gave assurances that the safety and welfare of the residents are also their major concern.
____________________________________________________________
