SENATE minority leader Aquilino Pimentel III has filed a resolution calling for an inquiry into the incidents of collapsing bridges to determine accountability from everyone involved in their construction.
Pimentel said the investigation will also determine the adequacy of current infrastructure policies with the end view of ensuring safety and reliability of bridges nationwide.
“The number of incidents of bridges collapsing across the country has reached an alarming level. These have resulted in fatalities, injuries, and significant economic losses, raising urgent concerns over deficiencies in engineering and design, use of substandard materials, lack of proper oversight, and possible corruption in infrastructure projects,” Pimentel said in filing Senate Resolution No. 1319.
He cited as examples the Cabagan-Santa Maria bridge in Isabela which collapsed last February 27, just weeks after its opening; the bridge in Barangay Magapi in Balete, Batangas which was also destroyed due to strong flood currents and the large number of uprooted trees carried by flood waters during typhoon “Kristine” on July last year; the Bantilan bridge, which connects Batangas and Quezon, that collapsed due to raging river currents and flood; and the Carlos Romulo bridge in Bayambang, Pangasinan which collapsed on October 20, 2022, among others.
Pimentel said billions of pesos are wasted each year due to these incidents, which he said “highlight the urgent need to review compliance by national and local governments, as well as contractors with engineering standards, design feasibility, maintenance protocols, and infrastructure budget allocations.”
