Newly opened P1.2 billion bridge in Isabela collapses, injures 6

Six people were hospitalized after a portion of the Cabagan-Sta. Maria bridge in Isabela province collapsed on Thursday evening, Feb. 27. 

Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office - Cabagan reported that the bridge connecting the towns of Cabagan and Santa Maria partially collapsed at around 8 p.m. on Thursday, which left six people, including a child, injured. 

“Mula sa datos ng MDRRMC, naisugod agad ang 6 na biktima sa Milagros Albano District Hospital na nagtamo ng mga minor injuries maliban sa isang bata na nagkaroon ng severe injury na agad na dinala sa Cagayan Valley Medical Center,” it wrote on its Facebook post.

The agency said that the collapse affected four vehicles—a dump truck carrying boulders, two Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs), and a motorcycle.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Cagayan Valley - Region 2 said in the statement that the bridge collapsed after a dump truck, carrying around 102 tons of boulder, passed by on it. The truck driver and porter were not seen at the site of the incident. 

“Further analysis on the cause of failure is still ongoing and DPWH Region 2 has requested experts from the Bureau of Design and Bureau of Construction in the Central Office to conduct further evaluation and assessment,” it added.

According to the DPWH, the construction of the bridge started in November 2014. It was initially slated to be completed in 2019, but it underwent retrofitting two months ago and was officially completed on Feb. 1.

The bridge spans a total length of 990 meters, with 12 arch bridges, with a total cost of P1.2 billion.