Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel III and Senator Bong Revilla urged the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to inspect the integrity of bridges and other public structures given the recent natural disasters that hit the country.
Revilla, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Works, said the DPWH should immediately retrofit all old and damaged infrastructures, especially bridges, to assure the safety of the people.
“Hindi na dapat naghihintay pa ng lindol, bagyo, o iba pang sakuna bago pa kumilos para suriin ang tibay at kondisyon ng mga tulay, daan, at iba pang imprastrakturang ginagamit ng taumbayan,”
“DPWH should be proactive in assuring the integrity and safety of all public infrastructure. Hindi na dapat naghihintay pa ng lindol, bagyo, o iba pang sakuna bago pa kumilos para suriin ang tibay at kondisyon ng mga tulay, daan, at iba pang imprastrakturang ginagamit ng taumbayan,” the veteran legislator said in a statement.
The seasoned lawmaker stressed although acts of nature cannot be controlled, mitigation and preparation could be improved.
The senator also called on different government agencies to respond to all affected by the magnitude 6.4 earthquake that hit Abra recently.
He recently cited the collapse of the bridge in Bayambang, Pangasinan as an example of the effects a crumbling infrastructure might cause.
Citing the same incident and another one in Loay, Bohol, Pimentel, meanwhile, said the DPWH should investigate the cause of the collapse of these bridges.
“Are our bridges still safe?” the veteran legislator asked in a Facebook post.
“Bridges are collapsing. What will the DPWH do to ensure the safety of our bridges?”
“I am worried. The incidents are very alarming. Bridges are collapsing. What will the DPWH do to ensure the safety of our bridges?” the seasoned lawmaker added.
The senator said the DPWH should ensure that local governments follow the standard specifications for bridge construction.
Bayambang town Mayor Niña Jose-Quiambao recently pointed to the two overloaded trucks, which caused the collapse of the bridge.
Jose-Quiambao said the bridge’s capacity was 20 tons but the two trucks carried a combined load of 40 tons to 50 tons.
Authorities have noted that the collapse of the bridge in Bohol was due to overloading.
