President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. announced that more than half a billion pesos has been earmarked to restore the San Juanico Bridge’s load capacity to between 12 to 15 metric tons by the end of 2025.
During the grand launch of Phases 2 and 3 of the National Fiber Backbone (NFB) project in Palo, Leyte on Monday, Marcos directed the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to speed up the bridge’s retrofitting and ensure its full rehabilitation. He emphasized that the ongoing restrictions are placing a strain on local residents, businesses, and transport operations in the region.
“May higit kalahating bilyong piso na pondo ang nakalaan para maibalik sa labindawala hanggang labinlimang metric tons ang load limit sa susunod na Disyembre,” the President said in his speech.
Previously, Marcos had expressed his desire to raise the bridge’s current load limit to at least 12 tons before the end of 2024. He also apologized to the people of Samar and Leyte affected by the bridge’s limited use during the rehabilitation, assuring them that safety remains the administration’s top priority.
The DPWH earlier indicated that an increase in load capacity may be possible in the final quarter of this year. Secretary Manuel Bonoan had said in May that improvements were underway, and easing of weight limits was being considered as structural works progressed.
The San Juanico Bridge, an iconic structure connecting Samar and Leyte, is undergoing a long-term rehabilitation effort to restore its full capacity after years of wear.
