Overloading blamed for Cagayan bridge collapse

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Cagayan Gov. Edgardo Aglipay wants cases filed against the owners of the four heavy trucks that crossed the Piggatan Bridge in Alcala town at the same time, which he blamed for the collapse of the bridge Monday afternoon.

Designed to carry up to 18 tons, the 45-year-old bridge likely fell apart due to overloading, according to initial investigations. Each of the four trucks reportedly weighed over 50 tons.

Alcala Mayor Tin Antonio, for his part, criticized the aging bridge’s limited load capacity, calling it “impractical” for a major highway. She said waiting for infrastructure to fully deteriorate before replacement is “unacceptable.”

Antonio urged the government to inspect bridges all over Cagayan, following the disaster that cut off northern Cagayan from the provincial capital Tuguegarao.

Major rerouting has been implemented in the area, with light vehicles advised to take the Piggatan circumferential road, while heavy trucks were rerouted to Baybayog, Alkala-San Jose, Baggao-Capissayan or Dummun (Gattaran) roads.

Cause still under study – Dizon

Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon said that the agency is still conducting an assessment of the bridge to determine the cause of its collapse.

Dizon, at a press briefing yesterday, said he was set to go to the bridge collapse site today and check with the district and regional personnel of the DPWH in Cagayan Valley.

“We will know today or tomorrow what was the cause (of the bridge collapse),” Dizon said. – Rainier Allan Ronda