Supposed to be completed early this year

TACLOBAN CITY, – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPHW) and the Department of Tourism (DOT) issued a joint statement informing the public that the long awaited San Juanico Aesthetic Lighting project will be delayed due to the on-going bolt replacement project.
“In January this year (2021), the DPWH VIII informed the provincial government of Samar and Amigo that they were advised by JICA that there is a need to replace the bolts of the bridge according to Japan standards,” the joint statement said.
“It is noteworthy to mention that the bridge is almost 50 years old and replacement of the bolts to strengthen the bridge takes the top priority,” the statement added.
The replacement of the bolts in the arch portion of the bridge will be completed by the DPWH in December 2021.
Amigo will also be able to complete the remaining five percent of its deliveries by that time.
“The opening of the light and sound of the San Juanico Bridge has been highly anticipated by everyone. At the same time, we call on everyone’s understanding that it is better to err on the side of caution for the safety of our commuters and the public that traverses the bridge,” the statement said.
“Rest assured that all of the concerned parties are working together for the benefit of everyone and for the completion of the necessary activities to showcase the significance and the beauty of the San Juanico Bridge,” it added.
The Tourism Infrastructure Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) in 2017 granted the request of the provincial government of Samar and the DOT-8 to fund the San Juanico Bridge Aesthetic amounting to P80 million.
The project was awarded to Amigo Entertainment Technologies Incorporated in March 2019.
As of August 2021, Amigo was able to implement 95 percent of its commitment.
As counterpart to the project the provincial government, contributed a project equity amounting to P15 million awarded to Samelco II and Asiaphil, Incorporated for the installation of a separate high voltage power supply facility that will be used for the operation of the lights and sound show.
Various dry-run testing were also conducted to make sure that expected technical issues will be addressed and resolved.
The project was earlier targeted to be completed earlier this year but with series of problems encountered notably the restrictions caused by the coronavirus disease pandemic, its completion was affected.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

CATARMAN, Northern Samar- The Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) under its Investment in Rural Enterprise and Agricultural and Fisheries Productivity (I-REAP) component recently turned over the hauling truck amounting to P1.9 million to the Northern Samar Indigenous Handicraft and Coco-coir Producers Association (NSIHCCPA) through a simple ceremony at the provincial covered court, provincial capitol compound.
Vice Governor Gary Lavin, who represented Governor Edwin Ongchuan, extended gratitude to the PRDP for its continuous support to the association.
Faustina Yosores, NSIHCCPA president, said that the dream they have been waiting for has finally realized.
She was thankful to the provincial government of Northern Samar under the leadership of Gov.Ongchuan for the support and exposure to trade fairs in order to promote and showcase their products.
She added that the hauling truck will surely help in transporting their products to different parts of the country such as Ormoc, Laguna, Quezon, etc.
Meanwhile, Editha Adalla, I-REAP head, reminded the officers and members of the association to manage well their handicraft and coco-coir project particularly the hauling truck and to use it solely for the project.
Allan Ultra, assistant provincial agriculturist emphasized that the hauling truck will help in lowering the cost of production of their products, and at the same time, create employment in their communities.
As of now, the NSIHCCPA is composed of 16 associations with more than 500 members in three clusters areas – Pambujan, San Roque and Laoang.
Also present during the turn-over ceremony were Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator Romeo Cardenas, staff of the Department of Agriculture Regional Project Support Office 08 and PRDP Visayas Cluster Support Office, and officers and members of NSIHCCPA.
(NORTHERN SAMAR PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE)