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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Luzon devider Contractor of Laguna bridge denies DPWH blacklisting

Contractor of Laguna bridge denies DPWH blacklisting

Published Apr 29, 2025 06:28 am

PAKIL, Laguna – The contractor of a bridge here said on Tuesday that they were not blacklisted by the Department of Public Works and Highways  after the infrastructure collapsed in 2019.

PAKIL LAGUNA.png

Curlee Discaya, chief executive officer of Saint Gerrard Construction, issued the statement after several individuals shared a post from the Facebook page Pasig City News and Updates that cited a part of a report in 2019 blaming the company for the incident.

Discaya said the 9.5-meter bridge in Barangay Burgos collapsed due to strong currents and cut logs that struck the formworks.

Formworks are temporary structures that support wet concrete during the bridge deck’s construction.

Heavy rain hit a nearby town, causing a surge of water and debris, she said.

"Umulan sa kabilang bayan, rumagasa ang tubig na may kasamang troso at tinamaan 'yung mga formworks sa ibaba kung saan nagbuhos kami ng concrete. Hindi kinaya ng formworks ang volume ng tubig na may dalang troso kaya nag-collapse iyong tulay," Discaya said.

(Heavy rain occurred in a nearby town and water with logs hit the formworks where he poured concrete. Formworks were not able to withstand the water volume and the bridge collapsed)  

"Hindi nga kami sinisi ng DPWH diyan kasi sila din ang nag-inspeksiyon ng construction. May pouring request, in-approve ng DPWH ang pagbubuhos, pero umulan sa unahang bayan. Hindi expected na mag-clog ang troso sa formworks. Kaya bumigay 'yung formworks dahil mabigat at basa pa ang concrete, hindi kinaya ang stress ng load ng bumanggang mga troso."

(The DPWH did not blame us for the collapse when they conducted an inspection. The DPWH approved the pouring request but it rained in a nearby town. We did not expect that logs would clog the formworks. The formworks gave up due to heavy logs and wet concrete)  

Discaya said the DPWH ultimately ruled the incident as an "act of God."

"Katunayan, nung nag-collapse 'yan, hindi kami na-blacklist kasi alam ng DPWH na act of God iyon," he said.

(In fact, the DPWH did not blame us when the bridge collapsed because the DPWH knew it was an act of God) 

Discaya said the bridge has since been completed and remains in excellent condition.

"Tapos na 'yang tulay na 'yan at matibay. Dinadaanan 'yan ng mga dambuhalang dump trucks at hindi bumibigay hanggang ngayon. Four years old na 'yang tulay," he said.

(The bridge has since been completed. Giant dump trucks pass it everyday and it has not collapsed. The bridge is four-years-old) 

Discaya said the renewed circulation of the bridge collapse issue is a deliberate smear campaign against his wife, Sarah, who is running for mayor of Pasig City.

Related Tags

BRIDGE DPWH St. Gerrard Construction Laguna province pakil
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