Eastern Visayas under state of calamity due to San Juanico Bridge rehab

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. says declaring a the state of calamity in the region will hasten the repair and rehabilitation of the San Juanico Bridge

CEBU, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a state of calamity in Eastern Visayas due to what he described as “significant structural compromises” on San Juanico Bridge.

The president inspected the bridge together with local officials on Wednesday, June 11. In a Facebook post, he said that he ordered immediate repairs at the bridge, instructing government agencies to bring the bridge back to full capacity before the year ends.

“The declaration of a State of Calamity will, among others, hasten the repair and rehabilitation of the San Juanico Bridge, and afford the National Government, as well as local government units (LGUs), ample latitude to utilize appropriate funds for the repair and safety upgrading of the subject public infrastructure,” the president said in Proclamation No. 920 dated June 5.

The provinces of Eastern Samar and Samar, and Tacloban City have also declared states of emergency, as of this writing.

“The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), in coordination with the concerned LGUs, is hereby directed to expedite all measures necessary to fully repair and rehabilitate the San Juanico Bridge,” the President said in his proclamation.

The President also directed the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to assist the DPWH in identifying funding sources to help the rehabilitation of the San Juanico Bridge.

Originally, the DPWH set a two-year timeline for the rehabilitation project and said that it would cost P7 billion. Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Regional Director Lord Byron Torrecarion disclosed that rehabilitation efforts have been delayed due to a lack of funding

In the meantime, the President has ordered law enforcement agencies, with the support of the Army, to ensure the safety of the people affected by the critical condition of the San Juanico Bridge and keep the peace and order in the area.

Since May 15, the San Juanico Bridge, which connects the islands of Samar and Leyte, has barred the entry of trucks, buses, and other vehicles weighing above three tons. Because of this, parts of the Eastern Visayas supply chain have stopped regular activities.

The Philippine Information Agency in Eastern Visayas reported that partial closure of the bridge has put fuel and goods supply at an all-time-low, inadvertently causing a hike in prices of basic commodities in the provinces of Eastern Samar and Samar.

“Mananagot ang mga nagpabaya. Hindi puwedeng ipagpaliban ang serbisyong dapat ay noon pa naibigay (Those who were negligent will be held liable. Service that should have been given long ago must not be delayed),” Marcos said. – Rappler.com