Senatorial aspirant Luke Espiritu slams government over Isabela bridge collapse, calls for probe
ESPIRITU SLAMS GOV'T OVER ISABELA BRIDGE COLLAPSE, CALLS FOR PROBE
Senatorial candidate and labor leader Atty. Luke Espiritu on Friday, February 28, blamed government negligence for the collapse of the Cabagan-Sta. Maria Bridge in Isabela, calling it a "manifestation of incompetence" by those in power.
Espiritu pointed out that the project's bidding was completed under the Aquino administration, while construction proceeded under the Duterte administration. He noted that former Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, now a senator and member of a political dynasty, oversaw the project.
"Nagtapon tayo ng lagpas 600 million, at kinailangan pang maglabas ng gobyerno ng dagdag 200 million dahil sa palpak na unang disenyo, at ultimo bumagsak apat na buwan matapos itong buksan," Espiritu said.
He criticized the appointment of officials without engineering expertise to lead infrastructure projects, taking a swipe at Villar's background in economics and business administration.
"Biruin niyo iyon, isang economics at masters in business administration ilalagay mo sa DPWH na gumagawa ng ating mga daanan? Why? Because his family is one of the biggest converters of lands to subdivisions? Tama ba iyon? Kung hindi ba naman ito pambubudol ay ano pa ba ito?" he asked.
Espiritu urged Villar to break his silence and explain the bridge's failure, demanding an expert-led investigation into possible substandard projects that could endanger public safety.
"Kung lumabas na mayroong anomalya at korapsyon dito kung kaya't bumagsak ang tulay na ito – may dapat singilin. 830 million pesos for a substandard bridge is no joke," he said.
Source: iMPACT Leadership
ESPIRITU SLAMS GOV'T OVER ISABELA BRIDGE COLLAPSE, CALLS FOR PROBE
Senatorial candidate and labor leader Atty. Luke Espiritu on Friday, February 28, blamed government negligence for the collapse of the Cabagan-Sta. Maria Bridge in Isabela, calling it a "manifestation of incompetence" by those in power.
Espiritu pointed out that the project's bidding was completed under the Aquino administration, while construction proceeded under the Duterte administration. He noted that former Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, now a senator and member of a political dynasty, oversaw the project.
"Nagtapon tayo ng lagpas 600 million, at kinailangan pang maglabas ng gobyerno ng dagdag 200 million dahil sa palpak na unang disenyo, at ultimo bumagsak apat na buwan matapos itong buksan," Espiritu said.
He criticized the appointment of officials without engineering expertise to lead infrastructure projects, taking a swipe at Villar's background in economics and business administration.
"Biruin niyo iyon, isang economics at masters in business administration ilalagay mo sa DPWH na gumagawa ng ating mga daanan? Why? Because his family is one of the biggest converters of lands to subdivisions? Tama ba iyon? Kung hindi ba naman ito pambubudol ay ano pa ba ito?" he asked.
Espiritu urged Villar to break his silence and explain the bridge's failure, demanding an expert-led investigation into possible substandard projects that could endanger public safety.
"Kung lumabas na mayroong anomalya at korapsyon dito kung kaya't bumagsak ang tulay na ito – may dapat singilin. 830 million pesos for a substandard bridge is no joke," he said.
Source: iMPACT Leadership