Jamaine Punzalan

Article (news)

Andrea Taguines

<p>MANILA — A <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/8/29/dpwh-to-build-temporary-steel-structure-to-reconnect-collapsed-aquino-bridge-in-tarlac-1600">temporary steel bridge</a> connecting the damaged sections of the Agana Bridge in Tarlac City could be opened to light vehicles within two weeks, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Wednesday as he personally inspected ongoing repair works by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) with Secretary Vince Dizon and local officials.</p><p>Marcos said the bailey bridge could be in place within a week to allow pedestrian passage including cyclists, with light vehicles allowed to cross within two weeks.</p><p>He said the initial weight limit could be around 10 tons, which would allow vans and other light vehicles to pass.</p><p>“Gerona pala ang kaisa-isang tulay na natira, alternate route para dito sa Agana at Aquino Bridge e napakalayo masyado kaya minamadali namin, binibilisan namin ang pag-aayos,” said Marcos.</p><p>Around 23,000 households had been isolated by the damaged bridges. Authorities have been providing 24-hour shuttle services between the city and the province while access remains limited.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/9/1/bangkay-ng-1-sa-mga-sakay-ng-suv-na-nahulog-sa-agana-bridge-natagpuan-1406">Bangkay ng 1 sa mga sakay ng SUV na nahulog sa Agana Bridge natagpuan </a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/9/2/isa-pang-pasahero-ng-lumubog-na-suv-sa-agana-bridge-natagpuan-sa-pangasinan-0901">Isa pang pasahero ng lumubog na SUV sa Agana Bridge sa Tarlac, natagpuan sa Pangasinan </a></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FabscbnNEWS%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0Ciu4FaqLJX4fCeXUZ9ZVCHs9u2XiDZbtpuqMZatDNxAcA1ab3hWsQPgzp3D3dwqJl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="250" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </span></div><div><strong>FUNDING FOR NEW BRIDGES</strong></div><div><strong> </strong></div><p>The President said the national government would provide P300 million to the Tarlac City government for the construction of a new Aquino Bridge.</p><p>“Dahil ito ay local bridge kaya sila ang kailangan magtrabaho dito. Siyempre tutulungan natin, tutulungan sa technical aspect. We’ll help them in everything and every way we can,” he said.</p><p>Tarlac City Mayor Susan Yap said the planned project would go beyond simply rebuilding the damaged structure.</p><p>Yap said the city would also seek input from the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers and experts from the academe, while exploring the possibility of getting advice from international experts like the Japan International Cooperation Agency.</p><p>“I don’t want a reconstruction. I think a new construction,” she said.</p><p>“Ang importante dito is we create a team of experts both local and national kasi iba na po yung speed and volume of water is unprecedented. (Kung) mabilis, sige, magtayo tayo ulit ng standard bridge. We’ll be facing the same problems in the near future,” added Yap.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/a5c3mtrVmzk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>CLIMATE CHANGE, EXTREME FLOODING  </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Marcos attributed the unprecedented damage to the unusually strong volume and speed of floodwaters brought by days of heavy rain.</p><p>He said the Agana Bridge had stood for decades without major problems before the recent flooding.</p><p>Local officials have said that water flowing around the bridge reached speeds of 30 to 35 knots, contributing to the collapse.</p><p>“This bridge has been standing since just after the war, so 70 years old na ito. Wala namang naging problema hanggang ngayon. Ito talaga ay maliwanag na maliwanag, eto ang epekto ng climate change,” Marcos said.</p><p>He said the government would continue to adjust its infrastructure plans to account for changing weather patterns.</p><p>“We will continue to adjust,” he said.</p><p>Meanwhile, Mayor Yap said the city would establish a task force to investigate the history of repairs done on the damaged bridges, with the aim of identifying what went wrong and incorporating the findings into the design of the replacements.</p><p>“To look at both the historical construction made through the years, to find out what went wrong, so that when we do plan for the new bridges, we take all of this into account and not make the same mistake,” said Yap.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lzXf8_bD2ss?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"/></div>

<p>A temporary steel bridge connecting the damaged sections of the Agana Bridge in Tarlac City could be opened to light vehicles within two weeks, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Wednesday as he personally inspected ongoing repair works by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). </p>

A temporary steel bridge connecting the damaged sections of the Agana Bridge in Tarlac City could be opened to light vehicles within two weeks, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Wednesday as he personally inspected ongoing repair works by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Marcos: Temporary steel bridge in Tarlac to open to light vehicles in two weeks

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Marcos: Temporary steel bridge in Tarlac to open to light vehicles in two weeks

Andrea Taguines

Published September 02, 2026 01:40 PM PHT

Read More:

Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

DPWH

Tarlac City

Agana Bridge

Aquino Bridge

Mayor Susan Yap

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