Amid viral video showing bridge swaying
TACLOBAN CITY – The construction of an alternate bridge linking Biliran province to Leyte is in the pipeline, according to Biliran District Engineering Office (BDEO) District Engineer Irwin Antonio.
This announcement follows a viral social media video highlighting the current bridge’s structural condition on December 23.
“With the age of the bridge, there is a necessity to construct another bridge,” Antonio said in an interview.
The Biliran Bridge, built in 1976, serves as the only connection between the island province and mainland Leyte. Initially designed to support a 20-ton load limit, this was reduced to 15 tons in 2014 after retrofitting efforts aimed at preserving its structural integrity.
The bridge underwent its first rehabilitation in 1996.
The need for an alternate bridge was emphasized during a Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) meeting on December 24, convened by Governor Gerard Roger Espina.
During the meeting, the council passed a resolution requesting the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to seek funding from the national government for the construction of a new bridge.
Engineer Antonio revealed that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has been planning the construction of an alternate bridge for some time.
He noted that discussions involving the national government, Biliran’s lone congressional representative, and DPWH regional and district offices have been ongoing.
“This is the only main link to Biliran province. The project is already in the pipeline and is currently under study to identify contributing factors. Once these are addressed, we will proceed with funding the construction of the new bridge,” Antonio said.
In response to the viral video, the DPWH regional office dispatched a bridge inspection vehicle on December 24 to assess the 200-meter-long Biliran Bridge.
The inspection revealed damages, including issues with the bridge’s stringers, steel cross bracing, and loose nuts and bolts, particularly in spans 1, 3, and 4.
Given these findings, the district engineering office recommended using barges to ferry heavy vehicles, such as cargo trucks and fuel tankers, between Leyte and Biliran. Currently, only vans, four-wheel vehicles, motorcycles, and motorcabs are allowed to cross the bridge.
As a precautionary measure, Governor Espina announced that the provincial government is considering declaring a state of calamity to stabilize prices and mitigate the potential economic impact of the bridge’s condition.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
