HOUSE spokesperson Princess Abante yesterday said Sen. Imee Marcos should explain what she has done for the 50-year-old San Juanico Bridge after the senator said the budget allocated for the structure was only enough for repainting.
“Perhaps, since Senator Imee is very much concerned about the San Juanico Bridge, we should ask her what she has contributed to its upkeep. Her duty as a senator includes deliberations on the national budget that covers the allocation for the maintenance of the bridge,” Abante told a press conference.
Sen. Marcos, the older sister of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., has criticized the seriousness of the national government’s budget commitment to San Juanico Bridge, which links Samar and Leyte, eliciting criticisms from Eastern Visayas officials and local stakeholders who pointed out that long-term infrastructure improvements are already underway.
“Well, all the budget allocated for the San Juanico Bridge is a matter of public record,” Abante said.
She said that since 2018, four years before Speaker Martin Romualdez — who represents Leyte’s first district — became the leader of the House of Representatives, he has been ensuring that the projects for his region are funded.
“And being from Tacloban and as the representative for that region, it’s really part of his advocacy to make sure that there are enough funds for the programs and projects for his constituents,” Abante added.
She said the maintenance of the iconic bridge has not been neglected and that rehabilitation efforts have continued under the leadership of the Speaker and local officials.
“We can see that the budgetary allocations for the San Juanico Bridge have remained consistent, particularly for its maintenance and rehabilitation,” she said.
The President last week inspected the ongoing expansion of the Amandayehan Port in Basey, Samar and the repair and rehabilitation efforts at the San Juanico bridge in Tacloban City.
After the inspection, Marcos reassured those affected by the repair works that more assistance is on the way, including possible aid to truck operators and delivery services that incurred additional expenses for ferrying their vehicles across the San Juanico Strait.
The President recently declared a state of calamity in Eastern Visayas over the San Juanico Bridge after concerns about its structural integrity were raised after it was damaged during recent typhoons.
The declaration allows the government to quickly mobilize national and local resources for repair and rehabilitation of the bridge, which spans 2.16 kilometers and connects Samar and Leyte. It is the longest in the country.
