Special committee formed to probe collapse of Isabela bridge

Malacañang on Wednesday said a special committee was formed to look into the collapse of the Cabagan-Sta. Maria Bridge in Isabela, noting that results of the probe will be released by next month.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro reported the development during a press conference, citing information from Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan.

"According to Secretary Bonoan, there is already, they already created a special committee to conduct an investigation on the collapse of the Sta. Maria bridge, the report should be given... the due date should be April 25. So we will just check what will be the update, the latest will be April 25," Castro said.

Asked about preventive suspension of concerned personnel, Castro said this has yet to be applied to any personality or official.

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 earlier 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."

However, the engineer behind the bridge denied that a design flaw was to blame for the collapse, asserting that the structure adhered to the Bridge Code of the Philippines.

A Senate blue ribbon subcommittee has started a motu proprio investigation into the collapse. Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, who chairs the subcommittee, has warned that he would subpoena Bonoan after the latter skipped the panel's hearing. — VDV, GMA Integrated News