MANILA — The Cagayan Provincial Government said the Department of Public Works and Highways will go after those who are accountable for the collapse of the Cabagan-Santa Maria Bridge in Isabela.

A portion of the bridge, which was opened earlier this month, collapsed Thursday night, damaging four vehicles: a dump truck, two SUVs and a motorcycle.

Total project cost was at P1.225 billion, including the bridge and approaches.

The Cagayan Provincial Government Public Information Office said DPWH Regional Director Mathias Malenab has promised that people will be held to account for any discrepancies and irregularities in the construction of the bridge.

"Titingnan natin kung ano yung pwede nating gawin sa tulay based on the output of our inspectors and evaluators, pero darating tayo sa point na papasok yung responsibility kasi hindi po natin matatakasan iyan, dahil kapag nasa serbisyong publiko ka palagi nandiyan ang responsibility and accountability, and of course transparency," the provincial PIO quoted Malenab as saying. 

(We will see what we can do about the bridge based on what our inspectors and evaluators say. But we will reach a point where we will have to talk about responsibility because we cannot escape that. When you are in public service, responsibility and accountability, and, of course, transparency always have to be there)

He said that DPWH field engineers and inspectors had checked the construction of the bridge and said the department had not been la about that.

DPWH Cagayan Valley said construction of the bridge, which had a total length of 990 meters — including 12 arch bridges and approaches — started November 2014.

It was completed more than 10 years later at Feb. 1, 2025.

The contractor of the bridge is R.D. Interior, Jr. Construction.

A second DPWH contract with the same company in May 28, 2024 showed the government tapping R.D. Interior, Jr. Construction to do more retrofitting work on the Cabagan-Sta. Maria Bridge for P115 million, to be completed in 180 days.

The Cagayan provincial government said that the retrofitting was meant to ensure the integrity of the bridge and not a change to the maximum design capacity of the bridge.

Under Republic Act No. 8794, which penalizes overloading, vehicles should not have a gross vehicle weight greater than 45 tons.