San Juanico Bridge repairs delayed

San Juanico Bridge repairs delayed | Daily Tribune

TACLOBAN CITY — More than a month after load restrictions were imposed on the San Juanico Bridge, actual repair work has yet to begin as funding for the project remains pending.

Office of Civil Defense-Eastern Visayas (OCD-8) Regional Director Lord Byron Torrecarion said the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional office is still finalizing the necessary documents before the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) can forward them to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). The NDRRMC will then endorse the request to the Office of the President for the release of funds.

“We expect repairs to begin in July once the funds are downloaded to DPWH-8,” Torrecarion said.

He added that OCD’s central office can initially allocate up to P520 million for the project, with the remainder to be sourced from other funding agencies to meet the estimated cost for the bridge’s immediate repair.

Initial assessments from DPWH-8 show that at least P1.17 billion is needed for emergency works on the iconic structure over the next six months. Once completed, these repairs will allow the bridge to support vehicles weighing up to 10 gross tons.

“We are focused on the immediate repairs because we want to increase the load limit as soon as possible to ease public inconvenience,” Torrecarion said.

As chair of the Regional Inter-Agency Coordinating Cell-8, Torrecarion is spearheading efforts to synchronize actions and updates regarding the San Juanico Bridge.

The Regional Development Council in Eastern Visayas (RDC VIII) earlier passed a resolution seeking funding support for the bridge’s rehabilitation and capacity expansion, citing its vital role in regional connectivity.

The resolution specifically urges President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to immediately allocate funds to DPWH for the bridge’s strengthening and restoration.

Outgoing RDC VIII chair and Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez stressed the urgency of the repair, pointing to the bridge’s critical function in mobility, commerce and disaster response.

“This resolution affirms our commitment to sustaining growth in Eastern Visayas by addressing the mounting concerns of our people and ensuring that our infrastructure can meet the needs of the future,” Gomez said.