MANILA, Philippines — Following an immense backlash from the public over the weekend, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said Monday that the damaged asphalt pavement of the Panguil Bay Bridge in Northern Mindanao has now been fixed.

Over the weekend, the bridge trended online after motorists shared photos of its uneven asphalt pavement, highlighting its deteriorating state just two months after it opened to the public.

In a report, Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan and Senior Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain, DPWH Unified Project Management Office – Roads Management Cluster 2 (UPMO-RMC 2) Project Director Teresita V. Bauzon said that the defects are confined to the asphalt pavement on some sections and do not affect the structural integrity of the 3.17-kilometer long bridge.

She also said that the contractor, Namkwang-Kukdong-Gumgwang joint venture (NKG JV), has been directed to replace the damaged asphalt pavement at no additional cost, as the completion certificate for the project has not yet been issued.

The contractor began emergency repair work on the Tangub City-to-Tubod direction on December 1, 2024, with this section expected to be passable by 7:00 AM on December 2, 2024. 

The agency said that the defects were caused by overloading trucks exceeding the 30-ton design capacity of the bridge. 

“Following the Panguil Bay Bridge’s opening on September 27, 2024, some surface damage appeared on the asphalt pavement due to overloaded vehicles crossing the bridge before controls were enforced,” Bonoan said.

Torrential rains exacerbated the damage, causing widespread pavement deformation and enlarging potholes in the affected areas, it said.

To prevent further damage, portable weighing scales were installed at both ends of the bridge—Tangub City, managed by the Misamis Occidental 2nd District Engineering Office, and Tubod, overseen by the Lanao del Norte 1st District Engineering Office. 

However, 24/7 monitoring has been limited due to budget constraints, which hinder the payment of wages for night-shift personnel.

In the meantime, the Tubod-to-Tangub City direction has been temporarily opened to two-way traffic, with round-the-clock repairs underway to minimize disruptions. Once the emergency repairs on the Tangub City-to-Tubod direction are completed, repairs on the Tubod-to-Tangub direction will commence at 7:00 AM on December 2, 2024, and are expected to be completed by 7:00 AM on December 3, 2024.  

Motorists are advised to maintain a steady pace and avoid stopping on the bridge to ensure smooth and safe traffic flow.