President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. cites a "design flaw" in 990-meter bridge that collapsed last week in the collapsed Sta Maria-Cabagan Bridge in Isabela.

The President said this after he inspected the bridge on Thursday. A dump carrying at least 100 tons of boulders and three vehicles passed through the bridge Thursday evening, causing the third span to collapse.

Marcos said that the project cost of the bridge is around P1.8 billion but was reduced to less than a billion. The bridge, which was built in 2014, opened to the public on Feb.1.

Public Works Secretary Emmanuel Bonoan told The Big Story late Thursday the bridge was supposed to be funded by official development assistance from the Japanese government.

Bonoan said the Japanese government proposal did not push through after officials said the bridge could be built on less money.

"It is a design flaw. The budget was reduced to less than a billion to save up money ... the design is really weak", Marcos told reporters in an ambush interview.

"This is the only suspension bridge without cables that I have seen in the whole world", Marcos added.

A portion of the bridge collapsed after a dump truck loaded with over a hundred tons of boulders and three vehicles passed through the 40 ton limit bridge on February 27. It injured six individuals.

Bonoan said the bridge is only open to light vehicles and there signs showing this.

"Let's fix the problem first. Believe me, we will find out who is responsible", Marcos said.

In a press briefing on Wednesday, Palace Press Officer and Undersecretary Claire Castro said based on initial investigations, they're looking at the possibility that the bridge was "under-design" and holding the owner of the dump truck accountable. Marie Manalili/DMS