The San Juanico Bridge is a major infrastructure that facilitates trade and tourism activities between Samar and Leyte. (NI脩O JESUS ORBETA / INQUIRER)
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro made this statement during a briefing in response to a question about whether President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. issued聽 directives regarding the potential effects of the rehabilitation on residents and the Visayas economy.
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鈥淭his is the first thing we want to convey, and this comes from our President: The rehabilitation will indeed have an impact on the public and concerned citizens in the area,鈥� Castro said in Filipino.
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鈥淏ut let鈥檚 look at this from a more positive angle, because this is a rehabilitation effort. The goal is to prevent any possible accidents or harm that could result if the issue is not addressed promptly,鈥� Castro added.
On May 16, a blue alert status was raised over the Eastern Visayas region after a weight limit was imposed the day before on vehicles passing through the 52-year-old bridge that connects Samar and Leyte.
Based on an earlier assessment by the Department of Public Works and Highways, vehicles weighing more than three tons are not allowed to use the bridge, which will undergo a two-year, P900-million rehabilitation to prevent further damage.
Meanwhile, the Office of Civil Defense created the San Juanico Task Group on Sunday.
The group is tasked with ensuring smooth traffic flow, implementing security measures, and facilitating rapid response efforts related to the ongoing rehabilitation of the San Juanico Bridge.