President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered the prioritization of perishable goods for passage across the San Juanico Bridge in response to the challenges faced by farmers, fisherfolk, and small-time truckers following the bridge’s emergency closure. The directive aims to mitigate economic losses and ensure the swift delivery of essential produce in Eastern Visayas.
During an inspection at the Amandayehan Port on Wednesday, President Marcos expressed deep concern after hearing accounts from truckers whose vegetables had spoiled due to prolonged waits for alternative transport, such as roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) ferries. “We will create a system so that perishable goods go first,” President Marcos assured residents. He added, “We talked to a truck driver; they were carrying vegetables. They waited three, four days. Of course, that’s not a refrigerated van. So, it’s useless, their products spoil.”
The Chief Executive has instructed the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to promptly establish a schedule for increasing the load limits on the San Juanico Bridge. He emphasized the urgency of completing the technical assessment and presenting a clear timeline for the rehabilitation of the crucial link connecting Samar and Leyte.
DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan affirmed that initial repairs would permit vehicles weighing up to 3 tons to cross. The load capacity will then be progressively increased to 4 tons, 5 tons, and ultimately to 12 tons before December.
President Marcos reiterated the importance of the bridge to the region’s economy, stating, “Tacloban is such a center of commerce. So many are affected. That’s why I’m hurrying the (Department of) Public Works (and Highways) to give us a schedule.”
The President’s visit to the San Juanico Bridge and Amandayehan Port in Basey, Samar, was to personally oversee government response efforts to the sudden closure. President Marcos clarified that the shutdown, though abrupt, was imperative for public safety after a structural inspection revealed severe, unseen damage. “Many are asking, why wasn’t this well-planned? The reason is, during the inspection for rehabilitation, a lot of dangerous parts were seen. The engineers immediately said, ‘Let’s close this because it might collapse if we are unlucky,'” the President explained.
Images from the inspection revealed extensive corrosion, buckling, and salt erosion within the bridge’s structural foundation, damage that was not visible from the exterior. President Marcos attributed the deterioration to inconsistent maintenance practices over the years. “The bridge looks good if you look at it from outside. But underneath, it’s all rust… It seems the maintenance every three years, as it should be, was not really done,” he noted.
Beyond prioritizing perishable goods, President Marcos has ordered the deployment of additional RoRo vessels and the expansion of port capacity to further mitigate the disruption to supply chains and local livelihoods caused by the bridge’s closure.
