Isabela guv blames dump truck with 102-ton boulders; 6 injured
CABAGAN, Isabela—A portion of the P1.2 billion Cabagan-Santa Maria Bridge in Isabela collapsed Thursday evening, four weeks after it was completed earlier this month.
The Department of Public Works and Highways said Friday analysis has started to determine the cause of the collapse.
The third span of the arch bridge, which took over a decade to complete since construction began in November 2014, gave way when a dump truck carrying boulders with an estimated gross vehicle weight of around 102 tons passed over it.
Six people were injured, including two children while four vehicles were damaged.
The truck driver and its porter remained missing.
“Further analysis on the cause of failure is still on-going,” the DPWH Region 2 said.
The regional office said it requested experts from the Bureau of Design and Bureau of Construction of the agency’s central office to “conduct further evaluation and assessment.” Isabela Gov. Rodito Albano III blamed the weight of the dump truck that passed the completed bridge.
“It passed during nighttime. Maybe it has been doing that for how many days now. That weakened the structure of the bridge,” Albano said.
He said he will seek the help of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for the reconstruction of the collapsed part of the bridge.
The bridge linking the towns of Cabagan and Santa Maria was completed on February 1, 2025.
This structure extends over a length of 990 meters and comprises 12 arch sections along with nine pre-stressed concrete girder spans.
The contractor for the project is RD Interior Junior Construction, listed as a single proprietorship licensed by the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board as Class “B” in General Building.
Senatorial candidate Panfilo Lacson yesterday expressed deep concern over the collapse of a portion of the newlyconstructed bridge, calling for accountability from those responsible.
“Why would it collapse? When it was built, locals said it was never really used by trucks. What is the purpose of a bridge if trucks can’t pass through it?” “Maybe the materials were substandard.
Until someone is held accountable and jailed, this wo;n’t stop,” Lacson said.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: “New bridge in Isabela collapses, six people hurt”