Senator Alan Peter Cayetano criticized Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan for his absence at the Senate hearing on Friday regarding the collapse of the P1.225-billion bridge in Isabela.
Cayetano emphasized that the Blue Ribbon Committee (BRC) hearing was not merely about an isolated case but is also aimed at investigating how the DPWH handles errors across its projects.
“If you read the resolution, it not only has to do with this bridge but how the DPWH deals with errant contractors, errant members, if any, of DPWH, and other processes. So he (Bonoan) has to be here,”” he said.
“‘Di ko nilalahat. Having said that, we want to get to the bottom of this,” he added.
Senator Alan was tasked by BRC chair Senator Pia Cayetano to lead the committee’s motu proprio investigation into the incident.
He also pointed out that Bonoan has repeatedly failed to attend crucial Senate hearings concerning the agency’s projects.
“Sa [hearing ng] New Senate Building, hindi nag-attend. Ito napakalaking skandalo nito na bridge, hindi nag-attend,” the senator remarked.
Cayetano chairs the Senate Committee on Accounts, which oversees the construction of the New Senate Building — a project being implemented by the DPWH.
In two Committee on Accounts hearings last year, Bonoan was absent from all.
Cayetano warned that he would issue a subpoena if the DPWH chief continues to refuse to attend the hearings.
“I will request one of you to text the Secretary… I will subpoena him if he doesn’t voluntarily come here,” he told DPWH representatives.
Seven DPWH officials attended the hearing, including Undersecretary for Regional Operations Eugenio Pipo Jr. and Bureau of Quality and Safety Director Reynaldo Faustino.
Cayetano also directed the committee to identify other DPWH officials involved in the incident to gather their statements and determine whether they should also be summoned.
“But walang duda na kailangan natin ang present Secretary dito,” Cayetano said.
The Blue Ribbon Committee convened the hearing to scrutinize the bidding, planning, construction, and testing of the collapsed Sta. Maria-Cabagan bridge and to assess the DPWH’s measures against abusive contractors.
“Y’ung intention ng bridge na ‘to is to transform the countryside. Napakagandang project. Pero now it’s a symbol of our failure as a government,” Cayetano said.
The committee is set to conduct a second hearing on Wednesday, March 19, 2025.
