Cagayan officials to file complaints vs. owners of overloaded trucks in Piggatan Bridge collapse

The provincial capitol of Cagayan will file complaints against the owners of the overloaded trucks involved in the collapse of the Piggatan Bridge in the town of Alcala. 

According to the report of GMA Regional TV’s Jasmin Gabriel-Galban in “24 Oras”, authorities are still identifying the trucks’ owners. 

“Papakasuhan muna natin sila - negligence, destruction to public property. At para mayroong tumanda rin hindi naniniwala sa 18-ton na ‘yan,” said Cagayan Governor Edgar Aglipay. 

(We will file charges of negligence and destruction to public property. So this will also serve as a lesson for those who do not follow the 18-ton limit.) 

The bridge collapsed on Monday afternoon after three loaded trucks, each with an estimated weight of 50 tons, were on the bridge at the same time, far exceeding its 18-ton capacity, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). At least seven individuals were hurt in the incident. 

One of the truck drivers said that he was supposed to deliver 650 sacks of harvested rice. Meanwhile, another driver thought there was an earthquake. 

“I heard something that cracked and our truck suddenly shook. So I thought there was only an earthquake until our truck dropped several feet below. I held tightly on my steering wheel and closed my eyes,” said Patrocinio Battad in the local language. 

Following the incident, Aglipay also ordered the inspection of other bridges in the province. 

Meanwhile, the DPWH said that it is finding out when was the last time that the bridge underwent retrofitting.

“May initial feedback pero hindi enough yung feedback nung district engineer. Kaya nagpadala ako ng mga engineers from the central office,” said DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon. 

(We had an initial feedback but what the district engineer gave me was not enough. So I sent engineers from the central office to find out more.) 

Under the 2026 national expenditure program, there was supposedly P45 million appropriations allocated for the rehabilitation and retrofitting of the Piggatan Bridge. 

“National government ang magpopondo nito. Maghanap tayo ng pondo either sa budget ngayon or sa susunod na taon. Pero kailangan ito at very least may temporary bridge tayo maitatayo diyan very soon,” said Dizon. 

(The national government will fund this. We will look for funding either from the present budget or from next year’s. But we need to solve this and at the very least we must put up a temporary bridge very soon.) 

The provincial government has instituted a rerouting scheme for affected traffic. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News