Transparency and Justice

The collapse of a section of the newly completed Cabagan-Santa Maria bridge in Isabela province is a tragic reminder of the consequences of negligence and possible corruption in public infrastructure projects. 

With a staggering cost of P1.225 billion and nearly a decade in the making, the bridge was supposed to serve as a vital link for communities. 

Instead, it has become a symbol of wasted resources, potential incompetence, and the dire consequences of failing to uphold construction standards.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is now probing whether substandard materials were used in the project—an alarming possibility that could point to corruption within the ranks of contractors and government agencies tasked with overseeing its completion. 

If irregularities are found, those responsible must be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. The Filipino people, who funded this massive undertaking through their taxes, deserve no less than transparency and justice.

Senatorial candidate Panfilo “Ping” Lacson has rightly called for legal action against those responsible, emphasizing that cutting corners in public works should never be tolerated. Indeed, accountability must be non-negotiable. 

The project’s contractor, R.D. Interior Jr. Construction Company, and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) must provide clear answers on whether proper construction protocols were followed.

While DPWH officials argue that the collapse was caused by an overloaded truck, this explanation is not enough. The bridge was designed to carry a maximum of 45 tons per vehicle, yet a dump truck weighing 102 tons was allowed to cross. 

This raises serious questions: Were there lapses in enforcing weight limits? Was the structural integrity of the bridge compromised from the start? If this tragedy was preventable, then negligence must be punished.

Infrastructure failures like this are not just engineering mishaps—they are betrayals of public trust. 

Presidential Decree 1759 and Republic Act 6957 mandate strict compliance with safety and construction standards. If corners were cut in the construction process, those involved must face legal consequences.

The Cabagan-Santa Maria bridge collapse should serve as a wake-up call—not just for Isabela, but for the entire country. 

Too often, substandard public projects are swept under the rug, leaving citizens to suffer the consequences. The investigation must be swift, thorough, and uncompromising. 

The guilty must face justice, and the government must ensure that no more lives or public funds are wasted on failed promises of progress.