PBBM: E. Visayas under State of Calamity to expedite San Juanico repair

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has declared a one-year State of Calamity in Eastern Visayas (Region VIII), effective June 5, to expedite the crucial repair and rehabilitation of the dilapidated San Juanico Bridge, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) announced on Tuesday.

President Marcos signed Proclamation 920, upon the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), which aims to mitigate the disruption caused by the bridge’s compromised state, particularly affecting residents of Samar and Leyte, as well as the movement of goods between Luzon and Mindanao. The declaration will remain in effect for a year, “unless earlier lifted or extended as circumstances may warrant,” said the President.

The state of calamity grants both the national government and local government units (LGUs) the flexibility to utilize appropriate funds to quickly repair and upgrade the vital infrastructure. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is directed to coordinate with LGUs to “expedite all measures necessary” for the bridge’s full repair. The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) will also assist the DPWH in securing the necessary funding.

Law enforcement agencies, supported by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, are also instructed to ensure public safety and maintain peace and order in the affected areas due to the bridge’s critical condition.

The 2.16-kilometer San Juanico Bridge is the only permanent land link between Samar and Leyte and a key part of the Pan-Philippine Highway, connecting Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. A recent DPWH assessment found the bridge in critical condition, leading to a strict three-ton vehicle load limit imposed on May 15. This restriction has severely impacted the transport of essential goods like food, medicine, and construction materials across Eastern Visayas.

President Marcos emphasized the urgent need to repair the bridge to ensure the timely delivery of essential goods and services and restore regional mobility. An official copy of Proclamation 920 has yet to be released by Malacañang.

The Eastern Visayas Regional Development Council (RDC) submitted a proposal in May, indicating that the complete repair of the San Juanico Bridge will cost Juan dela Cruz PHP 5.89 billion.