President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has announced that the San Juanico Bridge in Tacloban, Leyte will reopen to large vehicles starting today, December 12, following months of retrofitting and structural reinforcement.
During his Visayas trip, President Marcos, accompanied by Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon, inspected the San Juanico Bridge and confirmed that it will reopen to heavier vehicles today.
It can be recalled that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) had conducted a dry run last December 10 as part of preparations to increase the bridge’s weight capacity following earlier restrictions due to foundation weakening
In his remarks, the President emphasized the importance of consistent infrastructure upkeep, saying, “That is money that we could have saved if proper maintenance was carried out on San Juanico… We would not have to do any of this kung yung every three years, iniinspeksyon, inaayos.”
“Wala tayong gagastusin na kahit ano… that’s the MOOE of DPWH na kasama diyan… eh kung saan-saan napunta, eh hindi na ang inspeksyon, kaya tayo nagka-ganto,” he noted.
PBBM added that the current situation serves as a lesson in sustaining infrastructure care: “Etong experience natin na ’to… matuto na tayo na napaka-importante na tayo ay continuing maintenance.”
The President hopes that the San Juanico Bridge will be fully functional next year and will be able to take the load of 33 tons.
The reopening is expected to ease transportation flow, boost commerce between Samar and Leyte, and restore the normal movement of goods across the region.
The DPWH will continue monitoring the bridge as retrofitting works progress.
