He also asked the cost of repair works
TACLOBAN CITY – Mayor Alfred Romualdez has called on the national government to clarify the exact condition of the San Juanico Bridge, which was partially closed to vehicles weighing over three tons.
In a video message released on Saturday, May 31, Romualdez said that a clear explanation from national authorities would help dispel public doubts and speculations surrounding the load limit imposed on the iconic 2.16-kilometer bridge connecting the islands of Leyte and Samar.
“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,” Romualdez said, who earlier called for a second opinion from the experts on the issue.
Romualdez, a cousin of both President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and House 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 48 hours’ notice to close the San Juanico Bridge?” he asked.
The city mayor also raised concerns about the cost of repairs, noting that the public should be informed of the actual budget required.
He said he initially received reports that the repair cost was around P800 million, but it has since increased to P7 billion.
On May 15, when the partial closure was first implemented, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Assistant Regional Director Engr. Margarita Junia said in a media interview that the decision was based on recommendations from the consultancy firm Angel Lazaro and Associates International.
The firm conducted a comprehensive structural and foundation analysis of the bridge in 2023 and recommended full rehabilitation, she said.
Junia noted that concerns about the structural integrity of the 52-year-old bridge had been raised in previous years. However, it was only recently that the issue received attention, largely through the efforts of Speaker Romualdez.
“We actually requested at least a week before the load restriction would be enforced, but our request was denied. They said further delays could worsen the damage,” Junia added, referring to their hired consultant.
She said the San Juanico Bridge, which consists of 42 spans, is currently facing multiple structural issues, including corrosion of steel components and loose bolts.
During his visit to the region on May 30, DPWH 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 the Samar side 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.
JOEY A. GABIETA
