The engineer responsible for the Cabagan-Santa Maria Bridge in Isabela has refuted allegations that a design flaw led to its recent collapse, emphasizing that the structure complied with the Bridge Code of the Philippines.
Engineer Alberto Cañete, who authored both the 1997 and 2015 versions of the Bridge Code, explained in a 24 Oras report that the bridge was initially designed under the 1997 code. Construction commenced in 2014, and by 2015, updated standards were introduced, increasing force requirements for bridge designs. Consequently, the first eight arches were retrofitted to align with these new guidelines.
Addressing the collapse, Cañete noted that of the bridge’s 12 arches, the truck successfully traversed nine before the incident occurred on the tenth. He stated that if there had been a design error, the bridge would have failed at the first arch. He suggested that the collapse might have resulted from issues during construction or assembly, pointing out that the failure occurred at the connection points.
Cañete also highlighted that the dump truck involved in the incident weighed 102 tons, including its load—significantly exceeding the bridge’s 44-ton capacity. He emphasized that at three times the 13.5-ton axle load, the truck should have been an 18-wheeler, not a 10-wheeler.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has stated that the bridge was not substandard. While investigations are ongoing, overloading is considered the primary cause of the collapse.
On February 27, 2025, the Cabagan-Santa Maria Bridge in Isabela province collapsed, injuring six people. A 102-ton truck, significantly exceeding the bridge’s 44-ton capacity, was crossing at the time. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. inspected the site on March 6, attributing the collapse to both a design flaw and overloading. He noted that the original budget of ₱1.8 billion was reduced to under ₱1 billion, leading to compromises in the bridge’s design. Marcos highlighted the absence of essential support elements, stating, “This is the only suspension bridge I have seen without cables.”
