Waras Bridge collapse sparks public protest

By MANUEL T. UGALDE

A 15-meter concrete highway bridge, which had withstood earthquakes, floods, heavy equipment, and various types of road traffic for over a century, collapsed during the three-day onslaught of Typhoon Kristine in Bicol.

Known as the Waras Bridge, this structure spanned the busy Maharlika Highway between Iriga City and Baao in Camarines Sur. Its collapse, captured in videos and photos posted on Facebook, ignited public outrage as netizens criticized the implementing agency for constructing the bridge without steel reinforcement.

Typhoon Kristine brought unprecedented rainfall, with the Weather Bureau reporting levels equivalent to two months’ worth of rain, surpassing the volume recorded during Typhoon Ondoy in 2009, which had flooded Metro Manila.

In Camarines Sur, particularly in Naga City—widely considered the Heart of Bicol—floodwaters reached neck-deep levels and paralyzed transportation along the Manila-Bicol-Visayas-Mindanao route for five days.

While the billions in damages and tragic casualties from Typhoon Kristine were attributed to the wrath of nature, netizens were quick to blame government agencies for their perceived negligence in environmental protection and the effects of corruption, which they argued compounded the disaster.

Waras Bridge, a historic structure believed to have been built during the Spanish colonial era over a hundred years ago, had been excluded from replacement plans by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), despite its age and historical significance.

The destruction caused by Typhoon Kristine on agriculture, schools, and infrastructure was staggering. However, what most angered netizens were images and videos showing the collapsed Waras Bridge without any steel reinforcement—an omission that DPWH regional officials did not deny.

According to a partial DPWH report dated October 30, 2024, infrastructure damages across the 16 district engineering offices, including regional projects, totaled approximately P1.465 billion.

In Camarines Sur, the exact number of historically declared bridges still standing remains unclear. In Albay, the 50-meter Yawa Bridge in Legazpi City, another notable historical structure, was replaced in 1999 with a four-lane steel-reinforced bridge despite opposition from the provincial board. Then Albay district engineer Orlando Roces had asserted that the integrity of the arch-designed Yawa Bridge remained sound.

Despite resistance from the provincial board, newly appointed regional director Eleno Colinares pushed forward with the demolition of the Yawa Bridge, constructing a new steel-reinforced structure. Colinares accused the board of economic sabotage for opposing the project.

Assistant Regional Director Brigildo Fabia explained that arch bridges, often built during the Spanish era, were not typically reinforced with steel but were nonetheless robust. He cited Waras Bridge as an example, noting its durability under continuous heavy traffic on the Maharlika Highway. However, he acknowledged that the increased frequency of flash floods might weaken these historic structures over time.

When asked if Typhoon Kristine’s five days of unprecedented rainfall could have compromised Waras Bridge, leading to its collapse, Fabia responded that the office is awaiting the final report.

A source indicated that decisions on bridge replacements rely on structural assessments by the DPWH central office through the Roads and Bridges Information Application. It was fortunate that Camarines Sur was largely inaccessible due to floods, potentially avoiding a tragedy had vehicles been crossing when the bridge collapsed.

Many arch bridges from the Spanish era still stand, including the 100-meter Banao Bridge along the Maharlika Highway in Guinobatan, Albay. In 2019, a proposal to demolish the Banao Bridge by then Albay 3rd District engineer Efren Manalo was shelved due to local officials’ objections, citing its historical value. The bridge was also the site of a notable 1986 ambush by the New People’s Army that resulted in the deaths of over 15 soldiers, days after President Corazon Aquino’s inauguration.

DPWH Regional Director Virgilio Eduarte noted that most historically declared bridges, constructed during the Spanish era, are arch-designed. He plans to coordinate with the central office to identify bridges potentially due for replacement.