A girder from the Marilao Bridge collapsed onto a red Mitsubishi Adventure along the NLEx northbound lane on June 18, 2025, killing one passenger and injuring six others. The girder fell after an oversized truck struck the underside of the bridge. (Photo courtesy of Marilao Police)
BULACAN, Philippines — A repeat tragedy at the Marilao Bridge along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) has left one man dead and six others injured, once again highlighting critical gaps in the monitoring and enforcement of road safety regulations on one of the country’s busiest highways.
The fatal accident occurred around noon Wednesday when a container truck exceeded the vertical clearance of the Marilao Bridge and struck its underside, causing a girder to collapse onto a vehicle traveling directly behind it. The impact killed 54-year-old Bong Chua from Metro Manila, who was seated in the third row of a red Mitsubishi Adventure. The vehicle, en route to Baguio for a vacation, overturned after being crushed by the massive falling beam.
Chua was declared dead on arrival at the Joni Villanueva Hospital in Bocaue. Five of his companions, along with the driver, sustained various injuries and were also brought to the same facility.
Authorities identified the driver of the truck as Roy Taporco Macalisang, 31, of Tondo, Manila. He was arrested at the scene by NLEX patrol investigators after it was confirmed that the truck had violated the bridge’s 4.27-meter height limit. The truck, reportedly carrying parcels bound for a warehouse in Bocaue, had entered NLEX without being flagged for its height.
What makes the tragedy even more alarming is that this was not the first time the Marilao Bridge was struck. In March, an oversized vehicle similarly damaged the same structure, leading to a two-week partial closure that choked traffic in Bulacan. At that time, officials vowed to implement tougher screening for oversized trucks and conduct repairs to prevent further incidents. Those promises appear to have fallen short.
“This is what we were trying to prevent,” said Bulacan Vice Governor Alexis Castro, a native of Marilao. “But here we are again—and this time, someone has died.”
Castro recently met with NLEX officials and provincial engineers to address the recurring problem. He lamented the lack of consistent enforcement at expressway entry points, pointing to evidence that the truck involved in Wednesday’s incident may have bypassed the Balintawak toll entry—where vehicle screening is stricter—and entered through Meycauayan.
“It’s unacceptable that trucks with dangerous loads are still slipping through,” Castro said. “This is not just a case of driver negligence. This is a systemic failure.”
NLEX Corporation confirmed in a statement that the truck had indeed exceeded the allowable height, directly causing the beam collapse. They promised a full review of safety protocols and further coordination with government agencies.
The collapsed girder—an essential structural element that distributes the bridge’s load—raises serious concerns about the long-term safety and integrity of bridges along major highways, especially those regularly subjected to illegal and excessive loads.
As the investigation continues, the family of Bong Chua grieves a loss that could have been avoided. The public, meanwhile, is left with a haunting question: how many more warnings will it take before true accountability and proactive safety enforcement take hold on Philippine roads?