San Juanico Bridge, shown in this March 2023 photo, is an iconic 2.1-kilometer span connecting the islands of Leyte and Samar across the San Juanico Strait. It used to be the country鈥檚 longest bridge until the 8.9-km Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway was completed in 2021. A second San Juanico Bridge is now in the planning stage. (PATRICK ROQUE/CONTRIBUTOR)
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said on Wednesday the government will begin extending more assistance to those affected by the repair and closure to heavy vehicles of San Juanico Bridge.
This includes allowing night navigation to enable round-the-clock limited crossings, as well as deploying roll-on, roll-off vessels capable of carrying 30 to 50 trucks to ensure the timely transport of goods.
READ: San Juanico Bridge load limit may be increased before yearend 鈥� DPWH
鈥淭acloban is such a center of commerce, ang daming naaapektuhan dahil dito (and many are being affected because of this),鈥� Marcos emphasized in a media interview after inspecting the bridge.
Meanwhile, the President expressed dismay upon discovering that the mandated every-three-year inspection of the 52-year-old structure had not been followed.
鈥淲hen the DPWH conducted an inspection for the rehabilitation, they said the bridge had become dangerous鈥攚orse than expected. Perhaps it was because proper maintenance hadn鈥檛 been done over the years.鈥� he said in Filipino.
鈥淒apat 鈥榶an every three years binabalik-balikan. Tinatanong ko sa mga lokal, sa ating mga kababayan, kung talagang nagawa ba noon every three years. Mukhang hindi kaya nagkaganito,鈥� he continued.
鈥淭hat should have been checked every three years. I asked the locals鈥攐ur fellow citizens鈥攊f inspections were really done that often. It seems they weren鈥檛, which is probably why things ended up like this,鈥� he added.
READ: Marcos declares state of calamity in Eastern Visayas
Marcos, through Proclamation No. 920 signed on June 5, declared a state of calamity in Eastern Visayas to hasten the repair and rehabilitation of the San Juanico Bridge and mitigate the impact on residents of Samar and Leyte.
The state of calamity that began last June 5 will last for about one year, unless earlier lifted or extended as circumstances may warrant.