Tacloban mayor wants ‘second opinion’ on San Juanico Bridge condition
NO TRAFFIC Fewer vehicles are seen traversing the usually packed 2.16-kilometer San Juanico Bridge, which connects Leyte and Samar Islands, on May 20, when a load limit of 3 tons was imposed on May 14 after defects on its foundations were discovered. —Photo courtesy of Proud Bisaya Bai
TACLOBAN CITY, LEYTE, Philippines — Mayor Alfred Romualdez of this city urged the national government to seek a second opinion regarding the structural condition of the San Juanico Bridge following the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) decision to impose a 3-ton weight limit on the 52-year-old structure.
Romualdez, a cousin of President Marcos, believed a separate assessment from independent experts would be necessary before making any long-term decisions that would disrupt regional mobility and commerce.
READ: San Juanico Bridge load limit may cause P600-M losses, tourism slump
Already, a business group in the region had projected that economic losses within a year period could reach P600 million due to the limited traffic on the bridge that is a vital link between Leyte and Samar Islands, transporting goods and people.
“I believe we need a second opinion regarding the structural integrity of the San Juanico Bridge. We may be overreacting,” Romualdez said in an interview on Sunday.
“Before making a decision, we should consult other experts. Just like when we’re sick—we seek a second opinion,” he added.
The DPWH’s move to impose a 3-ton weight limit on the bridge came after a consultancy firm recommended the restriction, citing structural defects that require immediate attention.
Given that the bridge was constructed by a Japanese company with the help of its engineers, Romualdez suggested that the government should also consider consulting with Japanese experts or institutions involved in its original construction.
The 2.16-kilometer San Juanico Bridge connects the town of Santa Rita in Samar to Tacloban City in Leyte. Built from 1969 to 1973, it remains a vital infrastructure that links Eastern Visayas to the rest of the country.
Review limits
Romualdez also proposed a review of the imposed weight restrictions, suggesting flexibility for certain vehicles.
“Maybe empty trucks could be allowed to cross. They could be given specific schedules and speed limits to ensure safety,” he said.
The mayor expressed frustration that despite the installation of a weighing scale for trucks and heavy vehicles at the bridge, it was apparently never utilized, saying, “The problem is we had a weighing scale but it wasn’t used. We should learn from this.”
He warned that failing to find the right solution to the bridge’s structural issues could lead to unnecessary government spending: “For instance, if we start building multiple ports to compensate for the disruption, that could cost billions—possibly more than repairing the bridge itself.”
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon on May 25 ordered the immediate repair of a port in Samar to facilitate the transport of goods through roll-on, roll-off vessels, with heavy trucks prohibited from passing the San Juanico Bridge since May 14. /cb
