Photos circulating on social media showed portions of the bridge giving way after strong floodwaters battered the creek below amid continuous downpour.
Documents obtained by the media identified the structure as part of a Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) project under Contract ID 17LO-0133 for the “Concreting/Widening/Improvement of Bypass Road at Buhangin–Tigatto–Mandug–Callawa–Fatima Road including Reconstruction of Callawa Bridge and RROW” in Davao City’s 2nd District.
The contract was signed on May 11, 2017 during the term of then Davao City 2nd District Rep. Vincent Garcia.
Records showed the project was awarded by DPWH Region XI to Premium Megastructures, Inc., represented by general manager Jerome A. Butaya, with a total contract cost of P184,588,193.30 and a completion period of 240 calendar days.
The agreement was signed on behalf of the government by then DPWH XI OIC-Regional Director Allan S. Borromeo.
According to DPWH XI spokesperson Dean Ortiz, the collapsed bridge measured around 15 meters and had been subjected to worsening erosion over the years due to the widening of the creek underneath the structure.
Ortiz said the situation deteriorated further because of continuous heavy rains and strong water currents brought by flooding since Monday night.
“The creek widened significantly over the years, eroding the bridge approaches until the structure could no longer withstand the pressure from the floodwaters,” Ortiz explained.
No injuries or casualties were reported as of posting.
Authorities are continuing to assess the extent of the damage while monitoring other flood-affected areas across Davao City.