San Mateo-Marikina bridge closed since March to stem COVID-19 transmission

Some San Mateo residents have been forced to go up and down mountains and cross rivers just to get to work as the San Mateo-Marikina bridge remains closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

According to Maki Pulido’s Tuesday report “24 Oras,” Daniel Bustamante’s trips to find a job include going up and down steep and slippery paths on the mountainside and crossing a river.

“Hindi naman po pupuwedeng lagi tayong aasa sa bigay na ayuda. Kailangang tiisin ‘yung daan dito,” he said.

Senior citizen Viring Oberez has likewise been forced to trudge the steep roads.

“Naglalakad na lang po ako paakyat kasi mahal ang pamasahe. Singkwenta po. Pataas pababa, isang daan po. Nanghihinayang po ako, maglakad na lang po ako,” she said.

The bridge, which serves as a shortcut, would have made trips significantly easier for people like Bustamante and Oberez.

However, it has been closed on the San Mateo side since March 16 because the local government wants to limit the mobility of Barangay Silangan residents.

Out of the 12 cases of coronavirus disease in the barangay, six are active, or undergoing treatment or quarantine, while five have died.

Twenty other residents were also “reactive” to a COVID-19 rapid test but the Municipal Health Office has yet to ascertain how many among these are positive for the respiratory disease.

“‘Yung movement po ng tao kasi, if they will not be limited po, maaaring makakuha sila ng infection kasi po mino-monitor po ‘yung iba,” municipal health officer Dr. Maria Anna Sochaco said.

The San Mateo government said there is no definite date for the reopening of the bridge yet.

The Municipal Health Office will submit a report to the local COVID-19 task force on the reopening of the bridge. —Julia Mari Ornedo/LDF, GMA News