By CESAR JOLITO III

Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Western Visayas Director Nerie Bueno is facing charges before the Office of the Ombudsman for alleged grave abuse of discretion and betrayal of public trust in connection with the demolition of the historic Talave Bridge, which links Calatrava town and San Carlos City in Negros Occidental.

The complaint was filed by heritage advocate Andoni Valencia, chairperson of the Juan Calatrava Movement, a civic group campaigning for the preservation of cultural and historical landmarks in northern Negros.

“By demolishing the bridge without the required clearance from the National Historical Commission of the Philippines [NHCP], the law was clearly violated,” Valencia stressed.

“The NHCP’s authority was ignored, and a piece of our national heritage was destroyed without due process. This is not just negligence — it is a betrayal of public trust,” he added.

Valencia said the 100-meter Talave Bridge, built in 1933 by the United States Steel Products Company, is considered an Important Cultural Property under Republic Act 10066, or the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009, which automatically protects structures over 50 years old.

The NHCP had issued a cease and desist order against Bueno and San Carlos City Mayor Renato Gustilo in July 2024, but demolition of the bridge proceeded despite the directive.

The Talave Bridge was not only a vital infrastructure for northern Negros but also a symbol of pre-war engineering and economic history, serving as a major transport route for sugar during the American colonial period./CJ, WDJ