(Photo courtesy of DPWH-Eastern Samar)
TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Philippine Army jointly inspected six bridges in Dolores, Eastern Samar, to determine whether they could safely accommodate heavy engineering equipment needed for road construction projects connecting the isolated town of Maslog.
The inspection, conducted Tuesday by personnel from the DPWH Eastern Samar District Engineering Office (ESDEO) and the Army’s 502nd Combat Engineer Battalion, covered bridges along the route from Dampigan Bridge to Villahermosa Bridge.
ESDEO District Engineer Denis Cagomoc said the assessment aimed to identify structural limitations, accessibility concerns and potential obstacles that could affect the movement of military engineering equipment.
“The activity aimed to evaluate the condition and accessibility of the bridges and identify possible restrictions, route limitations, and other obstacles that could affect the safe and efficient movement of military engineering assets,” Cagomoc said in a statement Wednesday.
He emphasized that the joint inspection would help ensure the safe transport of construction equipment while preventing possible damage to existing infrastructure and minimizing risks to motorists.
Cagomoc also underscored the importance of coordination between the DPWH and the military in supporting infrastructure development, particularly in remote communities.
“This coordination between our agency and the Philippine Army highlights the importance of inter-agency cooperation in infrastructure assessment and engineering operations, particularly in ensuring that transportation routes are suitable for their intended operational requirements in safeguarding the province,” he said.
The DPWH said technical assessments of the six bridges were continuing to determine necessary safety measures, weight restrictions and other requirements before heavy equipment could be allowed to pass.
The inspection forms part of ongoing efforts to improve road connectivity to Maslog, one of Eastern Samar’s geographically isolated municipalities.
Road construction projects leading to the town began in 2023, with Army engineers undertaking civil works, particularly in areas previously affected by armed conflict.
The first phase was completed and turned over to the Maslog local government earlier this year. It included portions of the Php 163-million Maslog–Jipapad Road and the Php 30-million Panic-an Bridge.
Meanwhile, the second phase remains underway, supported by a Php 50-million allocation under the 2025 Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) Program.
Both phases are implemented under the PAMANA initiative of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity, which supports infrastructure development in conflict-affected communities.
Maslog, which recorded a population of 5,438 in 2024, remains accessible from Dolores through a two-hour boat journey.
The ongoing road projects aim to improve transportation access, facilitate the delivery of essential services and strengthen economic opportunities for residents of the remote municipality.
