MANILA — Lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc have filed a resolution seeking a congressional investigation into the collapse of the Cabagan-Santa Maria Bridge in Isabela to check for "possible corruption" and "use of substandard materials." 

ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro led the filing of House Resolution 2249 on Thursday for an investigation into the collapse of the bridge on February 27, the same month it was opened to the public.

The lawmakers said the investigation should go beyond individual accountability and look into the entire procurement and construction process, saying the long delay in the project's completion raise "serious concerns" about its design and approval, quality of materials used, as well as the integrity of the construction.

Isabela bridge ‘overstressed’ before collapse: DPWH

The three-seat bloc said the bridge collapse "is not an isolated case, as there have been several instances of newly constructed or retrofitted public infrastructure failing prematurely, pointing to a systemic problem of corruption, negligence and lack of proper oversight in government infrastructure projects." 

They said the recent collapse points to an urgent need to review government policies, strengthen accountability mechanism and "ensure that public funds are not wasted on substandard projects that endanger people's lives and livelihoods." 

The Palace has announced a separate investigation by the executive branch into the collapse of the bridge, which happened after a dump truck reportedly weighing 100 tons — the bridge was built to support a maximum weight of 44 tons. At least six people were injured in the collapse.

Palace: People from past and current admins may be held liable for Isabela bridge collapse

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visited the site of the collapse on Thursday.

The bridge designed by a local consulting firm began initial construction late 2014, underwent retrofitting and opened February this year, despite the original completion date being in 2019.

The Makabayan lawmakers said the House should hold hearings "to identify the responsible parties, determine whether corruption and negligence played a role, and propose necessary reforms to prevent similar disasters in the future."

The Department of Public Works and Highway on Wednesday said the bridge was "overstressed" by 200% based on its preliminary assessment.

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