Senators seek inspection of public structures after series of disasters

MANILA: In light of recent natural disasters that hit the country, Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. and Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III urged the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to evaluate the integrity of public structures.

According to Revilla, who heads the Senate Committee on Public Works, the DPWH should immediately upgrade all outdated and damaged infrastructure to ensure the safety of the people.

“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 (We should not wait for another earthquake, typhoon, or other natural calamity before we take an action in inspecting the condition of the bridges, roads, and other infrastructures used by the public), Revilla stated.

Revilla stressed that while natural disasters cannot be prevented, they may be better managed through mitigation and planning.

He also urged various governmental agencies to assist everyone affected by the magnitude 6.4 earthquake that struck Abra on Tuesday.

Revilla used the bridge collapse in Bayambang, Pangasinan, as an illustration of the potential consequences of poor infrastructure.

Pimentel, meanwhile, asserted that the DPWH should look into the reason for the collapse of these bridges, mentioning the same incident as well as another in Loay, Bohol.

“Are our bridges still safe? I am worried. The incidents are very alarming. Bridges are collapsing. What will the DPWH do to ensure the safety of our bridges?” Pimentel said in a Facebook post.

According to him, the DPWH should make sure that local governments adhere to the requirements for bridge construction.

Bayambang Mayor Niña Jose-Quiambao pointed to the two overloaded trucks as the reason why the bridge collapsed. According to her, the two trucks held a combined load of 40 to 50 tons, although the bridge could only withstand 20 tons.

Authorities have stated that overloading was also the cause of the Bohol bridge collapse.

Photo from Bayambang PDRRMO/Aries Bautista

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