MANILA – Malacañang is seeking the inspection of other bridges built under the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte to ensure their structural integrity and safety.
According to Presidential Communications Office’s Undersecretary Claire Castro, the Department of Public Works and Highway (DPWH) and concerned local government units (LGUs) would inspect the bridges to make sure they are not “under design.”
“Malamang po iyan din po ang gagawin ng administrasyon, i-inspect po hangga’t maari lahat po, with the help of DPWH, with the help of LGUs, lahat po ng mga tulay, lalung-lalo na po ang mga naisagawa sa panahon ni dating pangulong Duterte,” Castro said.
“Dahil hindi po natin alam kung nagiging under design din po. Kailangan po lahat hangga’t maaari ay ma-inspect,” Castro added during her media briefing at the Malacañang Palace.
Castro’s remark came after the Cabagan-Sta. Maria Bridge in Isabela province collapsed last week, an incident that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. attributed to poor and weak design.
Castro said the government will fix the problem and will also demand accountability for the collapse of the Isabela bridge.
“Unang-una po syempreng gagawin ng administrayon eh imbestigahan po ito, imbestigahan simula ng ito ay nagka-design up to the time kung bakit pa ito ay itinuloy kung hindi na maganda ang design noong 2014. Bakit tinapos pa ito sa panahon ni dating pangulong Duterte at sinasabi pa nilang Duterte legacy ito,” she said.
“Hindi lamang po doon hihinto. Kung may liability din po ang sinuman sa kasalukuyang adminsitrasyon, dapat din pong managot. Pero iyan po ay iimbestigahan kung meron mang pinagkakitaan dito not once, not twice, not many times. Aalamin po ito ng Pangulo. Aalamin po ito sa pamamagitan po nang pag-iimbestiga,” she added./PN
