ILAGAN CITY, Isabela – A newly retrofitted section of the Cabagan-Santa Maria Bridge in Isabela province collapsed on Thursday night, causing four cars to plunge into the Cagayan River, authorities reported.
Injuries have been recorded, though officials are still gathering data on the extent of the casualties. No fatalities have been immediately confirmed.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the project’s contractor are under scrutiny, but neither has issued an official statement regarding the collapse.
Originally funded with P640 million, the 720-meter bridge was set for completion in 2019 after more than five years of construction.
However, structural defects prompted an additional P200-million retrofitting project, which was only recently completed.
The bridge was primarily intended for light vehicles, especially during calamities when the nearby old bridge became submerged.
It had yet to be officially declared safe for full public use before the collapse.
Investigations are underway to determine the cause of the failure and assess liability for the incident.