Acidre: House funded San Juanico Bridge repair
Tingog Rep. Jude Acidre — Photo from House of Representatives
MANILA, Philippines — Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre has clarified that the House of Representatives has allocated funding for the repair of the San Juanico Bridge, noting that the problems encountered recently were borne out of implementation issues in the past years.
Acidre, in a statement on Thursday, said that data from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) show that the following amounts were placed under San Juanico Bridge’s rehabilitation and maintenance:
- P27 million in 2018
- P22.2 million in 2019
- P105 million in 2021
- P4.3 million for emergency repairs
- P90.6 million in 2022
- P150 million in 2023
“Since 2018, Congress has consistently allocated funds for the maintenance and rehabilitation of the San Juanico Bridge. This is a matter of public record, and we welcome any review of it,” Acidre said.
“The current situation calls for clear communication, forward planning, and stronger collaboration on the ground,” he noted. “We respect the concerns raised by our colleague, and we believe that rather than assign blame, this is an opportunity to work together and respond more effectively as one region.”
According to Acidre, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, who also represents Leyte’s first district — one of the most-affected areas — has always pushed for the repair of the iconic bridge, aside from his proposal to construct a second San Juanico Bridge.
“These appropriations reflect Congress’ continuing commitment to infrastructure development in Eastern Visayas,” Acidre said.
“Speaker Martin Romualdez, who hails from Tacloban and represents Leyte’s 1st District, has always championed long-term investments in connectivity, including the proposal for a second San Juanico Bridge,” he added.
Acidre’s reaction came after Leyte 4th District Rep. Richard Gomez asked why the government is only acting now regarding the San Juanico Bridge repair, which has caused the declaration of a state of emergency in different areas in Eastern Visayas.
READ: House leader seeks San Juanico probe
Acidre was delivering a privilege speech last Monday, calling for a probe into the matter, when Gomez asked why the House has not allocated funds for the bridge’s repair.
“As the last part of my manifestation, I would like to add Mr. Speaker, if possible, if we will proceed with an investigation, we will have to ask the committee secretary to prepare all the requests of DPWH with regards to San Juanico [Bridge] at the start of the 19th Congress,” Gomez said.
“Because as reported, every year, every budget year, they are requesting for a budget. If we failed to allocate that, maybe we are the ones remiss in our duties. Maybe we forgot. Maybe we failed to see that we really need to fund the repair of the San Juanico Bridge, Mr. Speaker,” he added.
According to Acidre, he has already met with Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan to discuss the ongoing structural assessment of the bridge, and ways to fast-track the rehabilitation program.
“We owe it to the people of Leyte and Samar to move quickly, efficiently, and in unity,” Acidre said. “We must ensure that rehabilitation efforts are well-communicated and backed by practical alternatives for affected sectors.”
“This is not about pointing fingers. It’s about finding solutions. Congress has done its part, and we remain ready to assist national agencies and local governments to restore the full function of the bridge and support the region’s recovery,” he added.
A three-ton axle load limit was placed on the San Juanico Bridge last May 8 after several structural vulnerabilities were identified. This restriction, however, has caused travel delays and logistical disruptions in the region.
Last May 16, a blue alert status was raised over the Eastern Visayas region after a weight limit was imposed on vehicles passing through the 52-year-old bridge.
The rehabilitation is expected to reach two years, with the project being worth P900 million.
The Office of Civil Defense meanwhile has established the San Juanico Task Group to manage security, safety, and operational coordination while repairs are being done. /das
