Placement of truck weighing scale in Nueva Ecija questioned

Barangay officials in Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija have questioned the placement of a portable weighing scale along the Sta. Rosa–Tarlac Road in Barangay Sto. Rosario Young, saying it does little to stop overloaded trucks from crossing the Rio Chico Bridge.

The weighing scale is supposed to inspect heavy trucks passing through the bridge.

However, officials said it should instead be installed on the La Paz, Tarlac side so that overloaded vehicles could be checked before crossing the bridge, not after.

Residents and barangay leaders fear that continuous passage of overloaded trucks may damage the bridge.

According to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)–Nueva Ecija 1st District Engineering Office, the weighing scale was placed originally in La Paz, Tarlac, but was moved to Zaragoza after residents there complained of dust caused by trucks unloading sand and lahar.

DPWH said it will review the barangay’s request to relocate the weighing scale.

Weighing scales are placed near bridges to make sure heavy trucks don’t go over the structure’s weight limit. According to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), overloaded trucks can cause roads and bridges to wear out faster and may even lead to serious damage if not monitored properly.

In practice, placing a weigh station just before a bridge allows authorities to intercept overloaded trucks before they cross, thereby protecting the bridge from stresses beyond its designed load capacity.

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