DPWH commits following Marcos’ directive
PALO, Leyte– The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the region has committed to completing the retrofitting of the iconic San Juanico Bridge by December 2025, aiming to restore its original 15-ton load capacity following a directive from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
This assurance comes as the current 3-ton weight limit—imposed in May due to structural concerns—continues to cripple trade and transport between Leyte and Samar, severely impacting local economies.
“We will move heaven and earth just to complete the retrofitting of the San Juanico Bridge on or before December this year,” said DPWH Eastern Visayas Regional Director Engr. Edgar Tabacon in a press briefing held Friday, July 11. “No less than our President directed us to do so and to increase the weight limit to 15 metric tons.”
According to Tabacon, preliminary work is already in motion, including portal shoring, a temporary steel support system to stabilize the bridge during construction. The DPWH also plans to rent barges from Cebu to support equipment and personnel access during the retrofitting phase.
However, actual rehabilitation can only begin once the P520 million budget—earmarked by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC)—is released. Marcos has tasked the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and DPWH to fast-track funding and implementation.
Speaking in Palo, Leyte on July 7 during the launch of the National Fiber Backbone Project (Phases 2 and 3), President Marcos emphasized the need to fast-track the project so the bridge can handle heavier traffic before year’s end.
“Kaya sa DPWH ay talagang tinutulak natin sila na bilisan ang retrofitting… ‘Yung San Juanico, kaya na ang 12 tons na tatawid. Kaya sa 12 tons, puwede na ang bus, puwede na ang mga van,” Marcos said.
He added that the P520 million funding is part of the administration’s commitment to rehabilitate the bridge, which was inaugurated in 1973 during the term of his late father, President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
“I have instructed the DPWH and DBM to act swiftly and find a solution. We must act urgently to make the San Juanico Bridge safe and fully functional again,” Marcos stressed.
Since the 3-ton limit took effect on May 14, cargo trucks and buses have been prohibited from crossing the 2.16-kilometer bridge, prompting serious logistical issues for industries and local economies on both islands.
To mitigate disruptions, the government deployed roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) vessels to transport cargo trucks between Amandayehan Port in Basey, Samar, and Tacloban Port in Leyte. A “libreng sakay” (free ride) program was also launched for affected public transport operators.
The worsening situation compelled President Marcos to declare a state of calamity in Eastern Visayas on June 5, unlocking emergency funds and allowing for faster implementation of infrastructure projects.
More than just a physical structure, the San Juanico Bridge stands as a symbol of inter-island unity and regional development. The swift restoration of its full capacity is widely seen as critical not only for logistical recovery but also for restoring confidence in the region’s infrastructure resilience.
JOEY A. GABIETA
