Historic Waras bridge collapses

By Manuel T. Ugalde

THE historic 15-meter Waras Bridge, weakened by age and previous typhoon damage, collapsed during the height of Typhoon Kristine, exposing long-standing concerns over its structural integrity and sparking public backlash toward the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for delays in its replacement.

Built during the Spanish era, Waras Bridge has withstood earthquakes, floods, and the constant passage of heavy vehicles along the Maharlika Highway, which connects Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

However, Typhoon Kristine’s intense rainfall appears to have undermined the bridge’s aging foundations, leading to its collapse before any serious accident involving buses or heavy equipment could occur.

The DPWH had recommended Waras Bridge for replacement back in 2018, following significant damage from Typhoon Usman. While repairs temporarily reopened the bridge, the DPWH’s 5th District Engineering Office also sought funding to upgrade it to a four-lane bridge by 2020. However, no new structure was built.

The incident has drawn strong reactions on social media, with videos and photos of the collapsed bridge spreading widely, highlighting the lack of steel reinforcement typical of Spanish-era arch bridges.

A DPWH official from the regional office commented that these historic bridges, built when forests were intact and flooding was rare, are especially vulnerable now due to more frequent and intense flash floods.

The five days of unrelenting floods from Typhoon Kristine are believed to have significantly weakened the bridge’s foundation, ultimately leading to its failure.

A DPWH source admitted they are uncertain why funding for a replacement was not prioritized, despite the region’s infrastructure budget ranking high among government expenditures.

Meanwhile, former broadcast journalist Carmelo Rima, now based in Catanduanes, criticized the DPWH for “incompetence and neglect,” pointing to the agency’s existence since 1868 and its history of handling public infrastructure.

Attempts to reach district engineer Leopoldo Barela for comment were unsuccessful. Barela, who was appointed officer-in-charge of DPWH’s 5th District Engineering Office in 2022, has faced criticism for being unresponsive to media outside certain political circles.

DPWH Bicol regional director Virgilio Eduarte, frequently summoned to Manila for typhoon-related damage assessments, was also unavailable for comment. In a message, Eduarte described the Waras Bridge as a critical route on the national highway network between Iriga City and Baao.

The collapse of Waras Bridge has reignited calls to evaluate and replace other Spanish-era arch bridges in the region, as evidenced by the 1999 replacement of the similarly aged Yawa Bridge in Legazpi.