TACLOBAN CITY — Starting on Friday, July 4, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Eastern Visayas will enforce a 3-ton weight limit on the Liloan Bridge in Southern Leyte, following structural damage caused by a magnitude 5.8 earthquake earlier this year.
In an advisory issued on June 27, the DPWH said the restriction is necessary to prevent further deterioration of the 298-meter-long steel bridge, which links the towns of San Francisco, San Ricardo, Pintuyan, and Liloan on Panaon Island to the Southern Leyte mainland. The bridge also serves as a vital link to Mindanao via Surigao.
“Effective July 4, 2025, a maximum load limit of three tons will be strictly enforced on Liloan Bridge, Southern Leyte for all types of vehicles,” the advisory read.
The Liloan Bridge, built in 1977 and spanning the Liloan Strait, was damaged after the January 23 earthquake, which widened gaps in the bridge’s steel expansion joints.
In response, the DPWH initially limited the weight of vehicles to 10 tons. This was reduced to 5 tons in March and will now be lowered further to 3 tons.
The new limit mirrors the restriction currently in place on the San Juanico Bridge, which was also downgraded to a 3-ton maximum on May 15 following similar structural concerns.
In the meantime, empty trucks weighing up to 5 tons will still be allowed to pass over the Liloan Bridge until July 3, giving motorists and businesses time to adjust before the stricter enforcement takes effect.
To mitigate the impact on the transport of goods and essential services, the DPWH has identified alternative routes. Affected vehicles are advised to use ports in Maasin City, San Juan, and Saint Bernard for rerouting cargo to and from Panaon Island, going to Mindanao.
Lord Byron Torrecarion, regional director of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and chair of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC), said the council is coordinating plans to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of essential supplies to the affected towns.
“These are critical areas that will be directly impacted by the weight restrictions,” Torrecarion said in a June 26 interview.
While full-scale repairs on the bridge have yet to begin due to funding constraints, DPWH confirmed that initial retrofitting works were conducted after the earthquake to stabilize the structure.
As one of the region’s key access points to Mindanao, the Liloan Bridge’s condition is a pressing concern for both local officials and national agencies, with calls for expedited funding and long-term rehabilitation planning now gaining urgency.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
