Senate blue ribbon probe on collapsed bridge in Isabela set March 14, 2025

A Senate blue ribbon subcommittee is set to conduct a motu proprio investigation into the collapse of the Cabagan-Sta. Maria Bridge in Isabela on Friday, March 14.

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano will lead the subcommittee hearing after he was designated by his sister, Senate Blue Ribbon chairperson Pia Cayetano.

Alan recently filed proposed Senate Resolution 1322 which urges the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to investigate the collapse of the bridge in Isabela and scrutinize the processes of the Department of Public Works and Highways in the construction of public infrastructure, including “how the DPWH deals with errant and abusive contractors.”

In his resolution, Alan cited the “repeated” observation of the Commission on Audit on DPWH for technical defects and deficiencies in its infrastructure projects due to inadequate supervision and monitoring.

“The Senate, through the Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations (Blue Ribbon), needs to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, to look into how the DPWH deals with errant contractors to ensure that the country and the people are protected against fraudulent and abusive contractors, with the end in view of coming up with legislation…,” the resolution read.

“The incident involving the Cabagan-Sta. Maria Bridge, incuding the aforementioned findings by the COA, raise serious questions about the competence of the DPWH and private contractors, and directly erode the trust reposed by the public in the agency and the government in general,” he added.

Alan is the sponsor of the DPWH’s annual budget allocations under the General Appropriations Act in the Senate.

Earlier, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III filed a separate resolution urging the appropriate Senate committee to investigate the "recurring incidents of collapsing bridges" across the country.

The investigation aims to seek accountability "from all public officials, contractors, and other parties involved" and to assess the adequacy of current infrastructure policies. 

On February 27, a portion of the bridge that connects the town of Cabagan to Santa Maria in Isabela province collapsed, leaving six persons injured. 

The DPWH said the bridge can only accommodate up to 44 tons, which is far from the weight of the truck, which was 100 tons.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. visited the collapsed bridge a week after the incident and noted that it had a “design problem.” 

The engineer behind the Cabagan-Sta. Maria Bridge refuted this, asserting that the structure adhered to the Bridge Code of the Philippines. — Hana Bordey/RSJ, GMA Integrated News