New Japanese-Funded Bridge to Enhance Connectivity in Eastern Visayas

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The Japanese government has funded the construction of a new bridge to connect Santa Rita town in Samar and Tacloban City, Tacloban, thereby supporting the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in their efforts to retrofit the historic San Juanico Bridge. This initiative by the Marcos administration is part of a broader strategy to bolster inter-island mobility through flagship infrastructure projects.

DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan announced that the new bridge will be situated adjacent to, and extend longer than, the existing San Juanico Bridge. This strategic infrastructure aims to provide a long-term alternative route, allowing for a comprehensive rehabilitation of the 50-year-old bridge once the new link is operational.

While the technical planning is underway, the DPWH continues their retrofitting efforts on the San Juanico Bridge, especially focusing on its approach sections, which were found to be structurally deficient following a recent safety evaluation. Although the bridge’s main truss remains stable, precautionary measures have led to the imposition of a three-ton weight limit, barring access to buses and cargo trucks.

Bonoan projected that the weight limit could be increased to 10 tons by late 2025, following the retrofitting's initial phase, thus enabling the passage of most commercial vehicles, with the exception of heavy haulers.

To ensure minimal disruption during this period, the DPWH has partnered with the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), Philippine National Police (PNP), and local government units to enhance ferry services between Samar and Leyte. This collaboration offers viable alternate routes for the transportation of passengers and goods.

Despite restrictions on heavy vehicles, light vehicles continue to access the San Juanico Bridge, while heavy trucks are redirected via the fortified ferry system until the completion of the new bridge, anticipated around 2027.

As the longest bridge in the Philippines, the San Juanico Bridge is a crucial conduit for trade and travel in Eastern Visayas. The government’s dual-strategy aims to prioritize public safety and maintain essential connectivity during critical infrastructure upgrades, promising smoother and more efficient movement across the region in the long term.

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Manila Bulletin 2025-05-21