Neglect, Nature Blamed for Tarlac Bridge Collapse

MANILA, Philippines — Decades of neglect, age and the surge of the river current caused the collapse of the Agana and Aquino bridges in Tarlac, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways. DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said yesterday that the repair of the Agana Bridge in Tarlac City is being fast-tracked, and the agency is targeting to reopen the structure to motorists next week. “Our priority is to re-establish connectivity for residents of Tarlac City. We expect the Agana Bridge to be passable by next week. I will personally inspect the completed works on-site,” Dizon said. The middle section of the bridge collapsed on Aug. 29 amid heavy and continuous rains spawned by the southwest monsoon. “While formal technical investigation is ongoing, the root causes are clear: advanced age and lack of historical maintenance,” Dizon said. He said the Aquino Bridge is over 40 years old, while Agana is nearly twice that age. “When unprecedented volumes of water hit these weakened structures, these gave way,” he said. He said the repair of the structurally complex Aquino Bridge will take time to finish.