Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon on Tuesday said that, based on their initial report, the collapse of the Piggatan Bridge in Alcala, Cagayan on October 6 may have involved several heavy trucks crossing simultaneously.
DPWH said on Monday night that based on their preliminary findings it indicates that at least three trucks may have "far exceeding" the bridge’s weight limit, 18-ton capacity which caused the collapse.
"Ang initial report, mayroong tatlong truck na sabay-sabay tumawid sa tulay na medyo mabigat at lampas sa load limit [ng] tulay pero bine-verify pa natin iyan," Dizon said in an interview on DZRH Dos Por Dos.
Dizon said that he had dispatched engineers last night to assess the damage and determine the cause of the collapse, as well as how quickly the bridge can be rebuilt.
Aside from affecting travel routes, the bridge collapse also disrupts the transport of crops, putting farmers’ harvests and consumers at risk.
"Kritikal ang tulay na ito dahil ito ang koneksyon mula Tuguegarao patungong Aparri sa Norte. Harvest season ngayon kaya kritikal ang Cagayan Valley kasi maraming magsasaka ang mag-aani ngayon diyan. Kaya malaking perwisyo ang nangyari," Dizon emphasized.
The bridge, constructed in 1980, has raised concerns about aging infrastructure. The DPWH chief said that they are verifying whether it underwent proper retrofitting in previous years. Similar issues have been noted in other older bridges nationwide, where maintenance and retrofitting have been inconsistent.
Dizon emphasized that the incident is not only a maintenance issue but also a traffic management concern. Coordination between the DPWH, local government units (LGUs), and the provincial government is crucial to ensure compliance with load limits and to prevent future accidents.
"Hindi lang ito tungkol sa maintenance, tungkol din ito sa traffic management kailangan nagtutulungan ang DPWH, ang LGU, ang provincial government para masigurado na tama ang pagmanage ng trapiko diyan," Dizon pointed out.
The official added that he would personally inspect the Alcala bridge, as well as the recently collapsed bridge in Cabagan, to evaluate conditions and prevent similar incidents. He further said that Cagayan Governor Edgar Aglipay will also be consulted to discuss strategies for preventing such incidents and expediting reconstruction.
The collapse is expected to cause significant detours. Light vehicles may face delays of 30 minutes to 45 minutes, while larger trucks could experience longer travel times.
Dizon warned that the disruption will affect residents, agricultural produce, and the prices of goods in the region.
