The recent collapse of the Cabagan-Santa Maria Bridge in Isabela province has left more than just concrete and steel in ruins; it has also exposed the fragile state of public accountability in our nation’s infrastructure. While the immediate reaction may be to point fingers at President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration, such a simplistic narrative overlooks the deeper, more entrenched issues that have plagued Philippine infrastructure for decades—if not centuries. Much like the bridge itself, our understanding of responsibility and public accountability has some serious structural and cultural flaws.
Let’s rewind to November 2014, when the bridge’s construction began. Initially, it was supposed to cost P639.6 million—an amount that ballooned to approximately P1.2 billion by its completion in February 2024. It’s almost as if inflation was the contractor, and it certainly didn’t hold back. But in the spirit of transparency, we should ask: who pocketed that extra P600 million? Local official or National official SOP sceme? Was it a case of “creative budgeting” or just plain old incompetence and corruption?
As the dust settles from the collapse, the Office of the President thru the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has launched an investigation. They will examine everything from the initial design to the final retrofitting done before the bridge met its untimely demise under the weight of a 102-ton truck. One can almost hear the engineers mumbling, “Well, it was probably someone else’s fault.” Because in our political landscape, public accountability is as slippery as the very waters the bridge was meant to cross.
To be fair, the bridge was built to replace an older structure that often succumbed to flooding—a noble goal, indeed! But it seems that even our infrastructure projects come with a side of irony: a bridge designed for stability ultimately became a symbol of instability. It’s as if the universe conspired to remind us that all roads lead to dysfunctional political system. The investigation must explore whether the original construction was flawed from the start. If the foundations were shaky or if substandard materials were used, then the bridge was doomed before it ever welcomed its first vehicle. But let’s not forget the retrofitting in 2023, which was supposed to be the bridge’s lifeline. If that was merely a cosmetic makeover—complete with superficial fixes and no real structural improvements—we might as well have thrown a layer of paint on a sinking ship. And then, of course, there’s the question of environmental stress. After all, the bridge was subjected to high water levels just months after its completion. Was there a plan in place to regularly assess its resilience against nature’s wrath, or was maintenance treated like that old gym membership we forget to use?
As we sift through the rubble, it’s essential to recognize that the failure of the Cabagan-Santa Maria Bridge is not merely a testament to the shortcomings of one administration but the cumulative effect of years of neglect, corruption, bureaucratic logjams, and a culture that often prioritizes short-term gains over long-term safety and development. Just as the bridge spanned multiple barangays, it also spanned multiple administrations, each contributing to the structural weaknesses we see today.
At this point, let’s pause for a moment of reflection. It’s tempting to blame the current administration for the bridge’s collapse, as if it were a game of political hot potato. But that would be like blaming the last person to cross the bridge for its failure. The root causes run far deeper, intertwined with a legacy of corruption, inefficiency, and a lack of foresight that has plagued our government infrastructure projects for far too long. So what’s the solution? It begins with a shift in perspective. Rather than looking for scapegoats, we must demand a comprehensive overhaul of our approach to infrastructure maintenance. This means adequate funding, rigorous enforcement of safety regulations, and a commitment to transparency that leaves no room for kickbacks or shortcuts. Only then can we hope to build bridges—both literal and metaphorical—that will stand the test of time.
Let’s remember that the collapse of the Cabagan-Santa Maria Bridge is not just about a structure that failed; it’s a wake-up call for all of us. It’s time to bridge the gap between public accountability and action before another tragedy strikes. After all, in a country where infrastructure is often treated like a second-class citizen, it’s high time we start building with integrity and that begins by casting responsibly our vote against corrupt national and local officials this May 2025 Midterm election.
