Bare true condition of San Juanico, mayor urges gov’t
TACLOBAN CITY—Mayor Alfred Romualdez has called on the national government to explain to local governments and residents in Leyte and Samar islands the true condition of the San Juanico Bridge following the imposition of a load limit on the structure that disrupted the transport of goods in Eastern Visayas region.
In a video message released on May 31, Romualdez said that a clear explanation from national authorities would help dispel public doubts and speculations surrounding the 3-ton load limit imposed on the iconic 2.16-kilometer bridge connecting Leyte and Samar. Only light vehicles have been allowed to use the 52-year-old bridge.
“I believe it is the responsibility of the national government to inform the public and explain clearly the extent of the damage and how long repairs will take. Sudden decisions like this only lead to more speculations,” he said.
Romualdez, a cousin of both President Marcos and Speaker Martin Romualdez, also questioned who recommended the immediate enforcement of the load limit.
“Who conducted this study? And why were we suddenly given only a 48-hour notice to close the San Juanico Bridge?” he asked.
The mayor also raised concerns about the cost of repairs, noting that the public should be informed of the actual budget required.
Romualdez said he initially received reports that the repair cost was around P800 million but it has since increased to P7 billion.
Partial closure
On May 15, when the partial closure was first implemented, engineer Margarita Junia, assistant regional director of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), said in an interview that the decision was based on recommendations from the consultancy firm Angel Lazaro and Associates International.
The firm, she said, conducted a comprehensive structural and foundation analysis of the bridge in 2023 and recommended its full rehabilitation.
Junia noted that concerns about the structural integrity of San Juanico Bridge had been raised in previous years.
However, it was only recently that the issue received attention, largely through the efforts of Speaker Romualdez. “They (consultants) said further delays could worsen the damage [on the bridge],” Junia said.
San Juanico Bridge, which consists of 42 spans, has multiple structural problems, including corrosion of steel components and loose bolts, she said.
During his visit to the region on May 30, Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan clarified that the upcoming work on the bridge would be “remedial” in nature, primarily involving retrofitting measures which could result in increased load capacity of up to 12 tons from the current less than 3 tons.
According to Bonoan, the retrofitting will cost approximately P1.2 billion. However, full rehabilitation of the bridge is projected to require P5.68 billion.
The project is expected to begin once the retrofitting design is submitted by the consultant, with work anticipated to last at least three years.
In response to the closure, roll-on, roll-off vessels have been proposed to transport heavy vehicles from Samar to Leyte via Tacloban City.
The local governments of Tacloban, Samar and Eastern Samar have since declared a state of emergency to mitigate the impact of the load restriction, particularly on the delivery of fuel and other essential goods.
