By Miriam G. Desacada
Tacloban City–Heightened controversy has further intensified lately over the stern restrictions on traffic access across the iconic San Juanico Bridge—linking Leyte and Samar islands.
Earlier last month, the Department of Public Works and Highways-Region 8 (DPWH-8) undertook scrutiny of the old 2.16-kilometer bridge’s structure stability, and found some probable signs of deterioration on some structural components.
These alarming findings prompted the DPWH-8 to enforce a 3-ton load limit on vehicular access, such as prohibiting heavy vehicles from crossing the bridge, while allowing access only light vehicles—below three tons—with traffic monitoring to prevent overloads and mitigate risks.
The DPWH-8 expounded the need to prevent further deterioration of the bridge, and to protect both travelers and pedestrians from dangerous consequences. These restrictions are aimed to safeguard public safety and minimize structural stress, while urgent repair and maintenance works are coordinated, it added.
All light vehicles must traverse along the bridge centerline and proceed one at a time, in strict compliance with on-site traffic management personnel. Heavy vehicles—including commercial cargo trucks and buses—are prohibited from using the bridge until further notice.
The restrictions on the San Juanico Bridge, in effect since May 15, however caused terrible consequences on regional commerce and public transportation, as these resulted in the daily stranding of more than 200 vehicles, which is projected to cause between P300 million and P600 million in monthly economic losses.
Thus, heightened controversy arose over the imposed restrictions, which have met adverse criticism from the public, many of which posted on social media, airing doubts on the true situation of the bridge that they said might even be framed purposely for getting huge fund allocations.
Local authorities however insisted that the directives for bridge restriction were duly verified and came from the presidential level.
The Office of Civil Defense-Region 8 (OCD-8) Director Lord Byron Torrecarrion told the media that, immediately after the bridge assessment, his agency deployed personnel to verify the situation there in coordination with DPWH-8 men.
OCD Administrator, Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno said, “Our primary goal is to safeguard the public and prevent any tragedy. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (PBBM) emphasized the importance of strict enforcement of the weight limit and coordination with local government units.”
In line with the directives of the President, after he was briefed of the bridge condition, the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC), chaired by Torrecarrion himself, convened an emergency meeting to come up with a unified response from all concerned agencies.
The meeting resulted in the issuance of a memorandum directing the strict enforcement of the bridge restrictions, but in coordination with affected local government units (LGUs). The memo was likewise addressed to all provincial, city, and municipal DRRMCs in the region, including those of the cities of Ormoc and Tacloban.
A joint task force comprising personnel from the DPWH, the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has been stationed at strategic points, or access points, near the bridge. These teams conduct vehicle weighing, traffic checks, and enforcement acts to prevent overloads, ensure safety, and facilitate smooth traffic flow.
While structural issues are being addressed by government engineers, PBBM ordered to maintain traffic links and commercial flows between the Leyte and Samar islands by imposing a temporary solution, such as the use of Roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) vessels to and from the ports of the two islands to transport passengers and cargoes across.
OCD-8 spokesperson Chris Noel Bendijo recently told the media that this alternative measure of using Ro-Ro vessels is now being implemented, coupled with the repair and restoration of old ports to be part of the solution.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) also recommended to the President to place the entire Eastern Visayas in a state of calamity, although Tacloban City had already put the city via such declaration ahead of other LGUs.
The OCD-8 agreed that such declaration is a vital step in addressing the major rehabilitation or repair of the San Juanico Bridge, as well as in solving the logistical and economic challenges as a result of the restrictions.
Bendijo said the declaration will accelerate the release of essential funds and enable immediate rehabilitation of the San Juanico Bridge to restore vital logistics and public services. The state of calamity declaration will allow the government to access the appropriate funds for the bridge repair, he added.
“The sooner that wallow the government to access the appropriate funds for the bridge repair, he added.
“The sooner that we repair the San Juanico Bridge, the sooner that our commerce, supplies and logistics will be back to normal,” he said, even if the DPWH had projected the completion of the repair in two years, with billions of funds needed to accomplish it.
Meanwhile, the OCD-8 is coordinating with the Department of Trade and Industry on the imposition of a price freeze on basic commodities amid the expected supply chain disruptions. “We are also looking at subsidizing other expenses to ease the plight of our countrymen and the flow of business,” Bendejo said.
Authorities are continuously monitoring the situation and exploring long-term solutions to restore the bridge’s full capacity, as the government is committed to safeguard public safety and strengthen infrastructure resilience.
Residents and travelers are advised to stay updated through official channels for further advisories, authorities announced. —Miriam G. Desacada
Amid structural concerns, PBBM
orders enforcement of restrictions
By Miriam G. Desacada
Tacloban City–Heightened controversy has further intensified lately over the stern restrictions on traffic access across the iconic San Juanico Bridge—linking Leyte and Samar islands.
Earlier last month, the Department of Public Works and Highways-Region 8 (DPWH-8) undertook scrutiny of the old 2.16-kilometer bridge’s structure stability, and found some probable signs of deterioration on some structural components.
These alarming findings prompted the DPWH-8 to enforce a 3-ton load limit on vehicular access, such as prohibiting heavy vehicles from crossing the bridge, while allowing access only light vehicles—below three tons—with traffic monitoring to prevent overloads and mitigate risks.
The DPWH-8 expounded the need to prevent further deterioration of the bridge, and to protect both travelers and pedestrians from dangerous consequences. These restrictions are aimed to safeguard public safety and minimize structural stress, while urgent repair and maintenance works are coordinated, it added.
All light vehicles must traverse along the bridge centerline and proceed one at a time, in strict compliance with on-site traffic management personnel. Heavy vehicles—including commercial cargo trucks and buses—are prohibited from using the bridge until further notice.
The restrictions on the San Juanico Bridge, in effect since May 15, however caused terrible consequences on regional commerce and public transportation, as these resulted in the daily stranding of more than 200 vehicles, which is projected to cause between P300 million and P600 million in monthly economic losses.
Thus, heightened controversy arose over the imposed restrictions, which have met adverse criticism from the public, many of which posted on social media, airing doubts on the true situation of the bridge that they said might even be framed purposely for getting huge fund allocations.
Local authorities however insisted that the directives for bridge restriction were duly verified and came from the presidential level.
The Office of Civil Defense-Region 8 (OCD-8) Director Lord Byron Torrecarrion told the media that, immediately after the bridge assessment, his agency deployed personnel to verify the situation there in coordination with DPWH-8 men.
OCD Administrator, Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno said, “Our primary goal is to safeguard the public and prevent any tragedy. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (PBBM) emphasized the importance of strict enforcement of the weight limit and coordination with local government units.”
In line with the directives of the President, after he was briefed of the bridge condition, the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC), chaired by Torrecarrion himself, convened an emergency meeting to come up with a unified response from all concerned agencies.
The meeting resulted in the issuance of a memorandum directing the strict enforcement of the bridge restrictions, but in coordination with affected local government units (LGUs). The memo was likewise addressed to all provincial, city, and municipal DRRMCs in the region, including those of the cities of Ormoc and Tacloban.
A joint task force comprising personnel from the DPWH, the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has been stationed at strategic points, or access points, near the bridge. These teams conduct vehicle weighing, traffic checks, and enforcement acts to prevent overloads, ensure safety, and facilitate smooth traffic flow.
While structural issues are being addressed by government engineers, PBBM ordered to maintain traffic links and commercial flows between the Leyte and Samar islands by imposing a temporary solution, such as the use of Roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) vessels to and from the ports of the two islands to transport passengers and cargoes across.
OCD-8 spokesperson Chris Noel Bendijo recently told the media that this alternative measure of using Ro-Ro vessels is now being implemented, coupled with the repair and restoration of old ports to be part of the solution.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) also recommended to the President to place the entire Eastern Visayas in a state of calamity, although Tacloban City had already put the city via such declaration ahead of other LGUs.
The OCD-8 agreed that such declaration is a vital step in addressing the major rehabilitation or repair of the San Juanico Bridge, as well as in solving the logistical and economic challenges as a result of the restrictions.
Bendijo said the declaration will accelerate the release of essential funds and enable immediate rehabilitation of the San Juanico Bridge to restore vital logistics and public services. The state of calamity declaration will allow the government to access the appropriate funds for the bridge repair, he added.
“The sooner that wallow the government to access the appropriate funds for the bridge repair, he added.
“The sooner that we repair the San Juanico Bridge, the sooner that our commerce, supplies and logistics will be back to normal,” he said, even if the DPWH had projected the completion of the repair in two years, with billions of funds needed to accomplish it.
Meanwhile, the OCD-8 is coordinating with the Department of Trade and Industry on the imposition of a price freeze on basic commodities amid the expected supply chain disruptions. “We are also looking at subsidizing other expenses to ease the plight of our countrymen and the flow of business,” Bendejo said.
Authorities are continuously monitoring the situation and exploring long-term solutions to restore the bridge’s full capacity, as the government is committed to safeguard public safety and strengthen infrastructure resilience.
Residents and travelers are advised to stay updated through official channels for further advisories, authorities announced. —Miriam G. Desacada