Crooks will fall President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has vowed swift accountability after the shocking collapse of the newly retrofitted Cabagan-Sta. Maria Bridge in Isabela province, a structure meant to stand as a testament to infrastructure progress. With a steely resolve, Marcos promised that ‘heads will roll’ amid public outrage.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said Thursday it is still investigating the cause of the collapse of a portion of the Cabagan-Santa Maria Bridge.
In a radio interview, DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan stated that the agency is assessing the incident and determining whether other segments of the bridge were compromised.
"One segment of the bridge, 60 meters, ang bumagsak (collapsed)," Bonoan said.
The DPWH has sought assistance from the Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines to assess the bridge and determine how to rehabilitate it.
Bonoan explained that construction on the bridge began in 2014 and that it was designed only for light vehicles.
"Ngayon lang nabuksan at ang dapat dadaan dito ay light vehicles lang dahil hindi pa nga tapos ang final testing (It was only recently opened, and only light vehicles should have been allowed to pass since the final testing period was not yet completed)," he said.
"May mga signages na nilagay diyan sa dulo ng tulay na for light vehicles only (There were signages at the ends of the bridge indicating that only light vehicles were allowed)," he added.
Part of the P1.22-billion bridge collapsed on 27 February after a dump truck carrying 100 tons of boulders passed over it. The incident left six individuals injured.
CCTV footage showed that two other trucks, both carrying rocks, had crossed the bridge before the collapse.
Bonoan noted that the maximum gross vehicle weight allowed is 45 tons, in accordance with Republic Act 8794, or the Anti-Overloading Law.
"Ang buhay ng isang tulay ay aabot nang at least 30 years kung ma-control yung overloading, kaya lang kung palaging nao-overload ang tulay, iiksi rin ang buhay ng tulay (The lifespan of a bridge should be at least 30 years if overloading is controlled. However, if a bridge is constantly overloaded, its lifespan will be significantly reduced)," he added.
Previously, Bonoan stated that the DPWH is studying potential legal action against the truck company.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered an investigation into possible corruption in the construction of the Cabagan-Santa Maria Bridge.
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