Escudero wants review of truck overloading rules after bridge collapse

Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero is pushing for a review of truck and trailer overloading policies after the partial collapse of the Cabagan-Sta. Maria Bridge in Isabela.

The bridge collapsed on February 27 when a truck reportedly weighing 102 tons attempted to cross it, despite its 45-ton capacity, injuring six people.

Escudero questions how the overloaded truck was allowed to traverse the bridge and suspects enforcement lapses, suggesting that visual inspections should be sufficient to identify reinforced truck beds.

He also called for the Land Transportation Office to prohibit reinforcement of truck beds and to hold truck owners responsible for overloading.

Escudero believes that government agencies should also determine the load capacity of roads and bridges based on their concrete thickness to enforce maximum weight limits.

While the Department of Public Works and Highways is investigating the incident, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. attributed the collapse to a "design problem."