TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan – Department of Public Works and Highways-Region 2 Director Engr. Mathias Malenab vowed on Friday, Feb. 28, that individuals responsible for the failed construction of the Cabagan-Santa Maria Bridge in Cabagan, Isabela will be held liable.

"Titingnan natin kung ano ‘yung puwede nating gawin sa tulay based on the output of our inspectors and evaluators, pero darating tayo sa point na papasok ‘yung responsibility kasi hindi po natin matatakasan iyan, dahil kapag nasa serbisyong publiko ka palagi nandiyan ang responsibility and accountability, and of course transparency," said Malenab said in an interview with the Cagayan Provincial Information Office-TeleRadyo.

(We will see what we can do about the bridge based on the output of our inspectors and evaluators. We will determine those responsible. We cannot escape responsibility, accountability, and transparency in public service)  

Malenab said they are doing well in the implementation of projects throughout the Cagayan Valley region.

"There's no room for doubt naman sa mga proyekto natin, kasi we are making it good for the public," Malenab said.

(There's no room for doubt in our projects because we are making it good for the public)

He denied that the bridge was not inspected and stressed that field engineers and inspectors have been monitoring the construction of the bridge and followed the designated design and testing procedures.

"We have field engineers who are assessing while the bridge is being built, we have inspectors who conduct inspections while the bridge is under construction," he said.

Malenab said that retrofitting was made on the bridge to conform with standards and updated design code of bridges across the country.

The P1.2-billion bridge with a length of 990 meters was just finished last Feb. 1.