Engr. Alberto Cañete, the engineer behind the design of the Cabagan – Sta. Maria Bridge in Isabela, has dismissed claims of a design flaw, instead citing overloading as the probable cause of the bridge's collapse.
In an exclusive interview with DZRH's Damdaming Bayan on Monday, Cañete confirmed that he designed the bridge in 2012, and it was completed in 2013.
He further emphasized that the design is now widely used, with similar bridges around the world employing the efficient arch geometry that supports the structure.
"Kasi mula pa ‘yan noong Roman times talagang napatunayan na napakatibay ng arko kaya matipid ‘yung design ko," said Cañete.
The structural consultant and academician clarified that the policy of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) dictates that the designer is no longer involved in the construction phase. However, he believes that his design was followed correctly.
He reiterated the importance of conducting a forensic engineering investigation to assess the design, inspect the construction, and generate an incident report on the circumstances surrounding the bridge's collapse.
Furthermore, he also stressed the need to compare the weight of the truck that passed with the actual capacity of the bridge.
"Nakadaan pa ‘yung mga truck sa siyam muna na arko bago doon sa pangsampu, doon bumagsak. Kung design ang problema, dapat doon pa lang sa unang arko nagkaroon na ng aberya ang tulay at hindi na tumuloy ‘yung truck," Cañete explained.
He then pointed to overloading as the primary reason for the bridge's collapse but clarified that no investigation has been conducted yet.
"Palagay ko kung ako lang, educated guess at this point wala pang imbestigasyon, hindi kinaya ng tulay ang bigat ng truck na nandyan sa tulay na bumagsak," he added.
Cañete stated that the serious issue of overloading needs to be addressed, citing numerous similar incidents he has come across online since 2022, where bridges collapsed due to overloading.
Ultimately, the engineer affirmed his willingness to participate in investigations into the collapsed bridge, should the Senate and House of Representatives proceed with their hearings.
On February 27, the bridge collapsed, just weeks after it was opened to the public earlier that month.
DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan previously told DZRH that the possible cause of the collapse was a convoy of trucks carrying boulders, weighing approximately 100 tons, that passed over the bridge.
He pointed out that the structure was designed to support only about 44 tons and that signs on both sides of the bridge clearly indicated that only light vehicles were allowed to cross.
Meanwhile, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. suggested that a design flaw could be a probable cause as he inspected the collapsed bridge.
"Ang puno’t dulo nito [ay] design flaw. It is a design flaw. Mali ‘yung design," Marcos said to reporters after the inspection.
