SENATE minority leader Aquilino Pimentel III yesterday said proper authorities should conduct a safety review of all bridges in the country and ensure their structural integrity.
Pimentel made the call after the Carlos P. Romulo Bridge in Barangay Wawa in Bayambang, Pangasinan collapsed on Thursday last week supposedly due to overloading.
The Department of Public Works and Highways — Ilocos Norte said the bridge, which was built in 1945, only has a load limit of 20 tons.
The 12-wheeler dump truck and Elf truck that crossed the bridge at the same time, the DPWH — Ilocos Norte said, weighed around 63.3 tons and six tons, respectively, causing the bridge to collapse.
Four people were hurt in the incident.
Aside from the Carlos P. Romulo bridge, Pimentel said other bridges have also collapsed, including the Clarin Bridge over the Lobo River in Loay, Bohol which killed four last April; the Borja Bridge in Catigbian, also in Bohol; the Kulafu River Bridge in Davao City, and an old bridge in Majayjay, Laguna.
He said the collapse of the Clarin Bridge should have already served as a “wakeup call for both the national and local governments” to conduct safety review of bridges in the country.
“Are all our bridges still safe? I am worried. The incidents are very alarming. They put doubt on the structural integrity and safety of all our bridges. It is time to evaluate the safety of our bridges,” Pimentel said in a statement.
He added: “Bridges are collapsing. What will the DPWH do to ensure the safety of our bridges?”
The senator said it is incumbent on the government to order an investigation and a regular thorough and detailed assessment of the overall safety of the country’s bridges to prevent untoward incidents from happening again.
Even if some bridges are maintained by local government units, Pimentel said nothing prevents the DPWH from setting aside funds for the inspection and rehabilitation of local bridges.
He said Congress is willing to allocate funds for the purpose.
