MAKABAYAN senatorial candidate and Rep. France Castro (PL ACT Teachers) yesterday called for a congressional inquiry into the reasons for the collapse of the P1.22 billion Cabagan – Sta. Maria Bridge in Isabela last February 27, just weeks after completion of retrofitting works.
Castro said suspicions of corruption and use of substandard materials, other than negligence, may have played a factor in the structural failure of the bridge resulting in injury to eight people.
“It is alarming that a P1.22 billion bridge that was just retrofitted on February 1 has already collapsed. This is not a simple accident or mere negligence. We need to examine the possibility of corruption and substandard materials,” she said.
The bridge, which took more than a decade to complete, collapsed when a dump truck carrying stones weighing over 100 tons attempted to cross despite the 40-ton weight limit. The incident caused a big headache for traders and residents since the bridge is considered a critical infrastructure link in the region.
Castro said an inquiry is needed to determine accountability at all levels, from the contractor RD Interior Jr. Construction to the officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) who approved and supervised the project.
“The flagman should not be the only one blamed here. The contractor and DPWH officials who approved and supervised this project must be held accountable. If corruption and substandard materials are proven, they should be charged with plunder and economic sabotage,” she said.
Former ACT Teacher Rep. Antonio Tinio said the incident highlights “a broader pattern of infrastructure failures” due to corruption in government projects.
“This is not an isolated case. We’ve seen multiple instances of newly built or rehabilitated infrastructure failing prematurely. This points to a systemic problem of corruption and lack of proper oversight in our infrastructure projects,” Tinio said.
Castro and Tinio welcomed Malacañang’s statement that “heads will roll,” but stressed that the investigation must be independent and transparent to ensure that all responsible parties are held accountable, not just low-level personnel.
“If the administration is truly serious that ‘heads will roll,’ not only should the small people be held accountable but also high officials who were negligent or benefited from possible anomalies,” Castro said.
