Senator suggests DPWH chief's removal over Isabela bridge collapse

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano suggested on Friday that Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan might have to be fired if accountability is pursued for the Cabagan-Sta. Maria Bridge collapse in Isabela.

Cayetano, who led the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee's investigation, expressed disappointment in the Department of Public Works and Highways' handling of the incident.

“I’m very disappointed with how the DPWH is taking this. Parang hindi wholehearted... Kung hindi pa pala tayo mag-hearing, hindi pa pala ito priority sa DPWH,” Cayetano said in an ambush interview.

(I’m very disappointed with how the DPWH is handling this. 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.)

He added that if anyone was to be held accountable, it should start with Bonoan, citing the secretary's absence during the investigation and prior Senate inquiries. Cayetano suggested issuing a subpoena against Bonoan.

“Hindi tayo makapag-initial assessment dahil lousy ang pagkilos ni Sec. Bonoan. They don’t even have a working theory after two weeks,” Cayetano remarked.

(We can't conduct an initial assessment because of Secretary Bonoan's poor handling. They don’t even have a working theory after two weeks.)

During the hearing, DPWH Undersecretary Eugenio Pipo disclosed that the bridge had noticeable cracks, prompting retrofitting in May 2023. Pipo revealed that instead of the contractor addressing the cracks, the DPWH opted to bid out the retrofitting work.

“Isn’t that an anomaly? Kung may cracks, sino ang dapat magbayad? Wala pang 15 years 'yan... Hindi ba kasama sa warranty kapag may cracks?” Cayetano questioned.

(Isn't that an anomaly? If there are cracks, who should be responsible for the costs? It's not even 15 years old... Aren't cracks covered by the warranty?)

Pipo admitted the DPWH had conducted only an ocular inspection after the collapse, without performing coring tests to assess the concrete's quality.

“Kailan natin gagawin? It’s two weeks na. Hindi urgent ito sa DPWH?” Cayetano asked, noting conflicting theories about the cause of the collapse.

(When are we going to do it? It's already been two weeks. Isn't this urgent for the DPWH?)

Cayetano also criticized the DPWH for failing to implement preventive suspensions for staff involved in the project.

“Two weeks na, wala pa kayong preventive suspension. So kung may kalokohan dyan sa design o testing, napalitan na by now... What kind of investigation are you doing?” he asked.

(It's already been two weeks, and you still haven't implemented preventive suspensions. So if there was any wrongdoing in the design or testing, it could have already been covered up by now... What kind of investigation are you conducting?)

He warned that without such measures, employees could manipulate evidence during the investigation.

“A billion-peso bridge collapsed, wala ni isang naka-preventive suspension. What has to happen bago ma-shock ang DPWH?” Cayetano stressed.

(A billion-peso bridge collapsed, yet not a single person has been placed under preventive suspension? What has to happen before the DPWH gets shocked?)

DPWH Undersecretary Pipo later stated that the agency would form a committee to investigate the incident and identify those responsible.

“We have to put a committee to determine whether it’s the design, the construction, or a combination of both,” Pipo said, adding that Secretary Bonoan supported the move.

The Cabagan-Sta. Maria Bridge partially collapsed on February 27, injuring six individuals. The DPWH reported that the bridge's capacity was limited to 44 tons, far less than the 100-ton truck that crossed it.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visited the site a week later, suggesting a "design problem" was to blame.

However, the bridge's engineer refuted this, asserting the structure followed the Bridge Code of the Philippines. — DVM, GMA Integrated News