MGB fact check: Bridge with no river in Southern Leyte is not standing on fault line

The trusted government agency in matters of geosciences, the Mining and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) recently claimed and called out the fake information about the supposedly infamous “bridge with no river” found in Bontoc, Southern Leyte by pointing out that is not true that the said bridge was not built on top of a fault line.

Maya Junai, the Engineer of the local Department of Public Works and Hghway (DPWH) said in her Facebook account that the said bridge reside on fault like.

“It has been a common knowledge for the residents in the area and for the usual motorists passing through this area that the numerous reblocking, embankment and slope protection projects implemented in this particular section in the past have been destroyed every time continuous heavy rains occur. And it was later found out that there is actually a fault line, and underground watersource ("tubod") in that section. For the past years, not only hundred truckloads of embankment materials were placed in the section. All were washed out.” The engineer said in her Facebook post.

She futher added, “Hence, this SLAB BRIDGE was built to cross a fault line, saving millions of pesos worth of road repair works and protecting lives and properties..”

Ma. Margarita C. Junia, DM / Photo credits to the owner

However, MGB chief geologist Valentine Narido, upon checking and inspecting the area in which the alleged bridge built on top a fault line, clarified that there was no conclusive evidence that the bridge was built on top of a fault line.

Narido further added that protocol dictates that DPWH would have first consulted the MGB to confirm if there was indeed a fault line found in that area.

Netizens poke fun at a bridge in Leyte without a river; called it "Daang matuweed."

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Source: GMA News Online