MALACAÑANG has committed to extend assistance to the people affected by the collapse of an old bridge in Loay town, Bohol that resulted in the death of four individuals.“We express our condolences to the families of the victims who perished with the collapse of a bridge in Loay town in Bohol. We likewise pray for the swift recovery of those who got injured,” Acting Presidential Spokesperson Martin Andanar said in a statement on Thursday, April 28, 2022.“Authorities are currently conducting an investigation even as we assure everyone, especially affected residents and communities, of government assistance,” he added.On Wednesday, April 27, the Clarin Bridge, which has been there for about 40 years, collapsed.Several vehicles fell into the river due to the incident. At least 24 people were rescued as of 5 p.m. Thursday, April 28.The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said around 12 utility vehicles and a delivery truck loaded with gravel and sand were traversing the bridge when the bridge collapsed.“This caused serious tension and the collapse of the bridge,” it said.In a separate interview, Loay Mayor Hilario “Lahar” Ayuban Jr. told SunStar Cebu that they will conduct their own separate investigation on what caused the accident.Ayuban said a truck loaded with sand and gravel reportedly counterflowed at the bridge at the time of the accident.The truck reportedly caused the standstill at the bridge which later resulted in its collapse, Ayuban added.In a separate interview, Capt. Geronimo Conaco of the Loay Police Station said they formally concluded their search and retrieval operation at the bridge at around 2 p.m. on Thursday.Conaco told SunStar Cebu that as agreed with the local government, they will start conducting the recovery operations on the vehicles that submerged in the river. (TPM , BBT / SunStar Philippines)