The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas held the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and its former secretary Mark Villar accountable for the collapse of the Cabagan-Santa Maria Bridge in Isabela on February 27. The incident occurred just 26 days after it was opened on February 1.

“This tragedy is not a simple accident. It is a tragedy of corruption! The bridge was built for a decade, costing billions, but collapsed in less than a month since it opened? Proof that DPWH does not build quality and proper infrastructure!” KMP chairperson and Makabayan Coalition senatorial candidate Danilo Ramos said.

The bridge collapsed after a truck carrying 100 tons of rock passed over it. The bridge’s maximum capacity was only up to 44 tons. The incident injured six, including a child cancer survivor who sustained severe bone injury to her left leg. The other victims sustained wounds and bone injuries requiring surgery.

Construction of the bridge began in November 2014, was completed in 2021 but required final retrofitting in the early part of 2025. Its construction cost ₱1.225 billion and an additional ₱274.8 million for retrofitting. When the bridge collapsed, blame was immediately piled on the truck driver and the flagman who allowed passage.

In light of this, progressive congressmen filed a resolution for Congress to investigate the reasons for the bridge’s collapse–from the contractor RD Interior Jr Construction to the Department of Public Works and Highways officials who approved and led the construction of the project.

“It’s shocking that a bridge worth ₱1.22 billion that was just recently retrofitted…suddenly collapsed. This is not a simple accident or recklessness. We need to examine the possibility of corruption and substandard materials,” ACT Teachers Party representative and Makabayan Coalition senatorial candidate France Castro said.

She said the flagman and ordinary people should not be the only ones blamed, high-ranking officials who benefited from the project should also be held accountable.