11/10/2025
๐ก๐๐ช๐ฆ | DPWH to Build Detour Bridges in Baua and Pateng, Gonzaga, Cagayan
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon has ordered the immediate construction of detour bridges in Baua and Pateng, Gonzaga, Cagayan, following his visit to the province on Wednesday, October 8, 2025.
During his inspection after the collapse of the Piggatan Bridge in Alcala, Cagayan, the secretary emphasized the urgency of putting up detour bridges at the Buntun Bridge in Tuguegarao City, the Magapit Bridge in Lal-lo, and the Baua and Pateng Bridges in Gonzaga.
โ[Just yesterday,] I released a memo instructing everyone from the DPWH, including regional and district offices, to coordinate with the LGUs and provinces in order to, first, assess all the bridges, and second, put in place measures such as traffic management,โ Dizon said.
He noted that proper traffic management could have reduced the risks that led to the bridge collapse.
The secretary also stressed the need to prepare alternative routes for other vulnerable yet crucial crossings in Cagayan.
โI also told the Regional Director that the four other critical bridges should be provided with detour bridges starting now. We need to be ahead because I wouldnโt be surprised if the situation of these bridges is the same as that of the one that collapsed,โ he added.
Local residents expressed concern that the deterioration of the Baua Bridge could disrupt the transportation system and endanger public safety if left unattended.
The LGU of Gonzaga, together with the DPWH, has already implemented strict traffic control screening to enforce the eight-ton and 18-ton weight limits of the Baua and Pateng Bridges, respectively. Furthermore, the following vehicles are not allowed to pass through these two bridges:
โข Loaded six-wheeler forward-type trucks
โข Loaded ten-wheeler trucks and above
As the detour plan progresses, preventive measures such as a one-way traffic scheme are being implemented. These are intended to extend the bridgesโ service life and ensure that the continuous transport of people and goods remains uncompromised.
Article by James Bryan Suetos
