PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. yesterday renewed his order to expedite the retrofitting and complete restoration of the iconic San Juanico Bridge, saying that more than P500 million has been allocated for the rehabilitation program.
The President, during the launching of Phases 2 & 3 of the National Fiber Backbone (NFB) project in Palo in Leyte, said the bridge should be able to carry a load limit of between 12 to 15 metric tons by the end of December 2025, and around 33 metric tons by the end of the rehabilitation program.
Marcos said he has directed the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to find immediate solutions to expedite the rehabilitation of the bridge but at the same time make sure that it is safe and sturdy.
He said the national government is aware of the inconvenience and burden on the communities affected by the bridge’s rehabilitation, including those in Leyte and even parts of Mindanao, especially due to the additional costs on travels and deliveries, among others.
Marcos said improvements are already being felt amid the repairs, such as reduced waiting time and easier traffic flow on the bridge.
He said that based on recent reports submitted by the Philippine Coast Guard, vehicles carrying perishable cargo are prioritized to pass the bridge and through the roll on roll off cargo vessels, with travel time cut to one to two hours.
On the other hand, travel time for non-perishable goods is down to two to four hours.
“We are really pushing the DPWH to expedite the retrofitting, to complete the rehabilitation, finish it quickly and properly,” the President said in Filipino.
Marcos in June declared a one-year state of calamity in Eastern Visayas to hasten the rehabilitation program and mitigate the impact of the limited closure of the bridge.
