DPWH Still Blames Truck for Isabela Bridge Collapse

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan is still inclined to blame truck overloading for the collapse of the brand-new Cabagan-Santa Maria Bridge in Isabela in February.

- By RAINIER ALLAN RONDA

Bonoan, in a forum at the Makabagong San Juan City national government center last Wednesday, railed against what he described as the overloaded truck that passed and caused the bridge to collapse.

"Hopefully, we can work together against these overloaded trucks using our bridges. Because it results to such an inconvenience," Bonoan said in Filipino.

He noted that a law prohibits truck overloading and sets the maximum weight capacity of vehicles passing through public bridges.

"We need the cooperation of local governments (to monitor trucks), especially on secondary roads that we are not able to monitor," Bonoan said in a mix of English and Filipino.

Aside from blaming the truck, Bonoan said the DPWH is also looking at the bridge construction, including its design aspects, possible design faults and possible faults of the construction contractor.