Cagayan: The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) announced the commencement of construction for a detour bridge near the collapsed Piggatan Bridge in Alcala, Cagayan, as part of a three-pronged strategy to address transportation issues for agricultural products in Luzon.
According to Philippines News Agency, DPWH Secretary Vivencio Dizon highlighted in a press conference that the new bridge structure will have a capacity of 40 tons, significantly exceeding the 18-ton capacity of the previous Piggatan Bridge. The original bridge, which was 45 years old, collapsed on October 6 due to suspected overloading, as four heavy trucks, each reportedly weighing over 50 tons, crossed simultaneously.
Dizon stated, "The construction of a detour bridge has started on Thursday. It will be constructed next to Piggatan Bridge. We will expedite the construction of this 40-ton capacity bridge." He assured that the bridge would be completed in 60 days to facilitate the delivery of crucial agricultural products like palay and corn. The projected budget for the detour bridge is over PHP17 million, covering a 124-meter bridge with an 84-meter steel length and approaches.
In addition to the bridge, the DPWH is considering alternative transport solutions. Dizon has coordinated with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez to explore using sea routes as logistical pathways for transporting agricultural goods, providing alternative options to land routes, and potentially using ships or barges to deliver products from Cagayan to areas such as Metro Manila and Batangas.
Furthermore, a traffic management plan has been initiated to prevent incidents like the one that led to the bridge collapse. Dizon emphasized the importance of this measure, stating that new traffic management protocols will ensure heavy trucks do not cross bridges simultaneously. He reiterated the government's commitment, under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive, to accelerate these solutions to support local farmers in the Cagayan Valley.
