Retro works cost P1.1 billion
TACLOBAN CITY — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Friday, Dec. 12, inspected the ongoing rehabilitation of the 52-year-old San Juanico Bridge and ordered strict, regular inspections of the structure, emphasizing that the government could have avoided the P1.1-billion retrofitting cost had proper maintenance been carried out through the years.
Marcos announced that the bridge—closed to heavy vehicles since May due to extensive structural damage—can now accommodate 15-ton trucks, months ahead of earlier projections that targeted only 12 tons by Christmas or New Year.
“Fortunately, the work has been done a little faster and now we can open it up to 15-ton trucks,” he said, noting that the easing of restrictions would benefit transporters who had been forced to take longer roll-on/roll-off routes to move goods between Samar and Leyte.
The President stressed that the government’s experience with San Juanico Bridge should serve as a reminder of the importance of routine inspection and timely repairs.
“The retrofit costs us P1.1 billion—money we could have saved if proper maintenance was carried out,” he said. “If it was inspected every three years, we would not have had to do any of this.”
Marcos added that major retrofits should not recur if the DPWH implements continuous and regular maintenance, which should be covered by its annual MOOE allocation.
The President said the retrofitting works are “partially finished” and projected to be fully completed by the third quarter of 2026, restoring the bridge’s original 33-ton, two-way load capacity.
Crews have already strengthened the most damaged segments and are currently repairing rusted steel components, missing bolts, and weakened pins.
Local officials are exploring the possibility of allowing 30-ton trucks to pass one-way at night when traffic is lighter, Marcos added.
Marcos underscored that the damage to the San Juanico Bridge significantly disrupted Eastern Visayas’ supply chain, affecting everything from food distribution to the movement of raw materials and consumer goods.
“It’s not just convenience but cost,” he said. “The damage affected commerce on both sides—Samar and Leyte. The sacrifices made by our truckers, stores, and manufacturers have been significant.”
Despite these setbacks, the President said the project remains on schedule.
“I’m very happy to say we are very close to our deadline. The repair is partially finished and will be completed next year,” he said.
Marcos was accompanied during the inspection by DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon and Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez.
The 2.16-kilometer San Juanico Bridge, built during the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos Sr., serves over 14,000 vehicles daily and is the primary link between Samar and Leyte and the rest of Eastern Visayas. It was closed to vehicles weighing more than 3 tons beginning May 15 this year after engineers found widespread deterioration.
JOEY A. GABIETA
