DPWH given a month to finish probe of Isabela bridge collapse

IMPASSABLE Motorists are forced to use an old overflow bridge after a span of the newly opened Cabagan-Sta. Maria Bridge in Isabela province collapsed on Feb. 27. The bridge is a vital link of Isabela to Cagayan and Kalinga provinces. —PRESIDENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE PHOTO

Malacañang on Wednesday said it had given the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) until next month to complete its initial investigation into the collapse of the Cabagan-Sta. Maria bridge in Isabela province.

In a press briefing, Palace press officer Claire Castro dismissed calls to impose preventive suspension against DPWH officials during the conduct of the investigation, saying such action would be premature.

“According to [DPWH] Secretary [Manuel] Bonoan, they already created a special committee to conduct an investigation on the collapse of [Cabagan-]Sta. Maria Bridge. The [report’s] due date should be April 25,” she said.

The Senate blue ribbon committee, which launched an inquiry into the collapse of the Isabela bridge, on Friday questioned why no one among current DPWH officials had been preventively suspended in order to allay fears of a possible whitewash.

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, the subcommittee chair, hinted that Bonoan should be fired for supposed accountability over the collapsed bridge.

“I’m very disappointed with how the DPWH is handling this [issue]. It seems like they’re not fully committed … If we hadn’t held a hearing, this wouldn’t have even been a priority for the DPWH,” Cayetano told reporters.

Bonoan did not attend the blue ribbon hearing.

INSPECTION President Marcos listens to a briefing by Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan on March 6 during an inspection of the Cabagan-Sta. Maria Bridge, a section of which collapsed last month. —PRESIDENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE PHOTO

No rush

The P1.2-billion bridge, which crosses the Cagayan River bordering Sta. Maria and Cabagan towns, collapsed on Feb. 27 after a truck

carrying boulders tried to cross it.

As an alternative, Isabela motorists are forced to revert to using the overflow steel bridge that they have been using during the bridge’s 12-year construction.

Cayetano disputed Bonoan’s’ earlier pronouncements that the bridge was “overstressed,” causing its failure.

“Half of the people believe there was a design flaw, while half believe it was substandard. Very few people believe it was about overloading,” he said at the hearing.

Cayetano said the blue ribbon investigation would have been averted had the DPWH preventively suspended involved officials and tapped a third-party investigator, such as the National Bureau of Investigation.

But Castro believed that a preventive suspension against DPWH officials was not immediately necessary.

“We can impose preventive suspension against anyone when it is deemed necessary, but in the meantime that we are still having this investigation, we cannot rush things by ordering a preventive suspension, especially if those involved are not with the government,” she said.

Under the law, an employee or official may be temporarily removed from their duties while an investigation is ongoing as a precautionary measure to prevent interference with the investigation, protect company interests or ensure workplace order.

“While we have not yet ascertained which parties are most involved, we cannot impose a preventive suspension,” Castro said. “We will see [how the investigation develops]. As we have previously assured, anyone who is responsible will be made liable.”