DPWH hopes to complete San Juanico repairs by December
TACLOBAN CITY—The Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan has announced that retrofitting works at the San Juanico Bridge would start anytime soon and was expected to be completed before December 2025, at a cost of around P450 million.
Bonoan said the retrofitting would involve 32 spans of the 2.16-kilometer bridge, a vital link between the islands of Samar and Leyte.
The planned repairs are intended to increase the bridge’s load limit from the current three tons to up to 12 tons, which would allow medium-sized vehicles and passenger buses to resume using the bridge, Bonoan said.
“The retrofitting work will start in the next few days. I’m just waiting for the consultant’s final estimate next week. The initial estimate is about P450 million covering the approaches from both the Samar and Tacloban sides. At least 32 spans will be repaired,” Bonoan said In an interview on June 11.
Bonoan also clarified that raising the load limit to 33 tons—as previously suggested—would require a complete replacement of the bridge deck, which is already in a deteriorated state despite appearing intact on the surface.
“For a 33-ton limit, the bridge deck would have to be replaced. It may still look okay but it’s actually very old and deteriorating,” he explained.
Change of plan
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) imposed a three-ton weight restriction on the San Juanico Bridge on May 15 following structural assessments that showed its deteriorated state.
This action was based on a recommendation by its consultancy firm, Angel Lazaro and Associates International, which found significant structural defects.
Bonoan revealed that the original plan was to begin the full rehabilitation only after the construction of a new bridge connecting Leyte and Samar.
However, the current condition of the San Juanico Bridge necessitated immediate intervention.
“The original plan was to close the existing bridge only after a new one had been built. Unfortunately, this situation forced us to act immediately and close San Juanico Bridge for the safety of motorists and the public,” Bonoan said.
He emphasized that the damage was substantial and warranted the strict weight limit.
“We wouldn’t have imposed a three-ton limit unless it was absolutely necessary,” said Bonoan, who joined President Marcos and Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon in inspecting the condition of the bridge on June 11.
Constructed between 1969 and 1973 during the term of then President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., the late father of the incumbent President, the San Juanico Bridge was built with funding from the Japanese government as part of its war reparations to the Philippines.
