The Bureau of Public Works is accelerating the rehabilitation of the San Juanico Bridge, with President Bongbong Marcos reporting that repairs have progressed enough to reopen the structure to 15 ton trucks after months of strict limits triggered by major structural damage.
Marcos inspected the bridge and confirmed that the partial reopening reflects faster movement on the retrofit. “The repair of San Juanico Bridge is partially finished, it will be finished next year,” he said. He added that the increased load limit is a significant shift for mobility in Eastern Visayas. “Mabuti naman, medyo napabilis ang trabaho at ngayon, puwede na natin buksan ito for 15 tons na truck so malaking pagbabago. Makakatawid na ‘yung mga cargo truck natin na dati hindi nakatawid.”
The bridge had been restricted to three tons earlier this year after engineers identified damage in several key components, including roadway slabs, girders, truss members, piers, footings, piles, and bearing pads. Marcos previously said more than P500 million had been allocated to support the repair work.
The Department of Public Works and Highways committed to raise the allowable load to 12 to 15 tons by the end of the year, and a dry run on December 10 confirmed that two way traffic at the higher limit could proceed.
Marcos said the next goal is restoring full capacity by the third quarter of 2026. “We are hoping for the total return of the bridge’s functions to allow 33 tons, two ways, by… the middle of next year, third quarter of next year, fully functional na ito,” he said.
He also noted that Tacloban officials have proposed scheduling heavier truck crossings in the evening when traffic is lighter. Marcos said the cost of the retrofit reinforces the need for consistent public infrastructure maintenance. “The retrofit… P1.1 billion. That is money that we could have saved if proper maintenance was carried out on San Juanico. We would not have to do any of this kung ‘yung every three years iniinspeksyon, inaayos,” he said.
Built starting in 1969 and completed in 1973, the San Juanico Bridge remains a critical link between Samar and Leyte and one of the most important corridors in Eastern Visayas.
