By Melvin C. Gascon
The private contractor has agreed to repair a collapsed section of a newly widened road in Aritao town in Nueva Vizcaya, after a jeepney loaded with tomatoes plunged into a ravine, injuring two passengers early Friday morning.
In a phone interview, Nueva Vizcaya 2nd District Engineer Rosita Tinawin of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) confirmed that AMP 723 Construction, the firm behind the road project in Barangay Kirang, will undertake the repairs at its own expense.
“The project is already beyond the one-year defects liability period, but the company committed to shoulder the restoration work,” she said.
AMP 723 also agreed to pay an undisclosed amount to cover the medical expenses of the injured victims, Tinawin said.
“I was informed the contractor has already paid some amount to the victims as settlement. I just am not sure if that also covers the economic loss sustained by the victims from the crash,” she said.
The crash occurred past 4 a.m. near the boundary of Barangay Baan and Barangay Kirang, a vital stretch of road for vehicles traveling from Baguio to Aritao.
Witnesses initially thought the collapse was an ordinary landslide until they discovered the jeepney had fallen into the gap.
The jeepney driver and a female passenger were reportedly discharged from the hospital after sustaining “minor” injuries.
DPWH data showed that the collapsed road is part of a P38.5 million widening project, which was begun on Feb. 8 to July 4, 2024 — a period of four months and 26 days.
Tinawin said it was premature to conclude about the structural integrity of the road widening project, as the DPWH inspectors have yet to make a technical assessment.
Contractor links
Tinawin dismissed reports that the road project was handled by a local contractor allegedly linked to incumbent Aritao Mayor Remelina Peros. She believes it was AMP 723 that worked on the road widening contract.
“As you know, that project was implemented before my time so I just relied on documents on hand,” she said.
The DPWH has been under scrutiny for alleged corruption, contract manipulation, and poor-quality road projects nationwide.
Watchdog groups have repeatedly called for transparency and stricter monitoring of contractors handling taxpayer-funded infrastructure.
Road safety concerns
Motorists and residents in upland Nueva Vizcaya have raised concerns about the integrity of roadworks, particularly along the busy Baguio–Nueva Vizcaya route, where heavy trucks and public transport vehicles regularly pass.
Authorities are expected to investigate whether substandard workmanship, erosion, or other factors caused the collapse.
The Nueva Vizcaya road collapse underscores persistent concerns over public safety and the urgent need for accountability in DPWH infrastructure projects. #
