4 hurt in Isabela bridge collapse still in hospital: local government staff

Screengrab from a drone video of the collapsed newly-built Cabagan-Sta. Maria Bridge in Isabela on Friday morning, February 28. Video from SDN Events\Chu Taquiqui

MANILA — Four of the six individuals injured in the collapse of a newly opened bridge in Isabela province are still in the hospital where they were immediately transferred, according to a Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management officer of Cabagan town.

Aljorey Eduard Bernaser, LDRRM assistant, told Teleradyo Serbisyo in an interview that the injured are still under medical care.

Bahagi ng tulay sa Isabela, bumagsak

He said that he could not comment on the Department of Public Works and Highways investigation into the bridge collapse, but could give updates on casualties.

"'Yung nanay ay kasalukuyan pa rin nasa facility. May fracture sa kanyang spine. Ito namang anak niya nandoon din sa facility at tinitingnan din 'yung kaniyang fractures sa kaniyang paa," he added.

(One mother is still at the facility, she has a spinal fracture. Her child is also there and being examined for fractures in the feet)

Bernaser said many groups have been extended help to the injured.

"Maraming iba't-ibang organizations ang sinusubukang mag-reach out at magbigay ng tulong. Sa ngayon, ang nasa ospital ay yung isang pamilya, isang individual na nagda-drive ng isa pang vehicle. Overall apat sila," he explained.

(Many organizations have been reaching out to provide help. For now one family is in the hospital, as well as another person who was in another vehicle. There are four casualties in the hospital)

6 injured in collapse of newly retrofitted bridge in Isabela

Aside from the injured individuals, the collapse of the barely-a-month completed Cabagan-Santa Maria Bridge also sent four vehicles into the dried-up section of the Cagayan River bank.

These included two SUVs, a motorcycle, and a dump truck loaded with stones.

Isabela Gov. Rodolfo Albano III has blamed the cargo truck for the collapse, saying its load exceeded the maximum load of 45 tons.

DPWH promises accountability, transparency on collapsed Isabela bridge

The Cagayan Provincial Government earlier said the DPWH will probe and go after those accountable for the bridge's collapse.

"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 Public Information Office said, quoting DPWH Regional Director Mathias Malenab.

(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 lax about that.

The collapsed bridge took 11 years to build and had a total project cost P1.225 billion.

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