Metro Manila, Philippines – Tacloban City is under a state of emergency due to limited access to the San Juanico Bridge, Mayor Alfred Romualdez said on Saturday, May 31.
The City Council earlier released a resolution declaring the state of emergency as the issuance of a temporary load limit adjustment has disrupted the transport of goods and medical supplies between Leyte and Samar.
The load limit has been limited to three tons to prevent incidents as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said the 2.16-kilometer link is overdue for retrofitting.
“With restricted access to San Juanico, the main gateway in and out of Tacloban, the city is facing serious concerns related to economic flow, emergency response, and supply chain delays. This declaration allows the local government to act faster, allocate emergency funds, and coordinate with national agencies for support,” the resolution stated.
In a video statement, Romualdez called on the national government to make public the plans and feasibility studies regarding the repair of the bridge
“I feel that the public should be given all the information pertaining to the condition of the bridge,” he said. “Sino ba ang gumawa ng study na ‘to at bigla-bigla na lang binigyan kami ng 48 hours para isara itong tulay?”
[Translation: Who did this study and suddenly gave us 48 hours’ notice of the bridge’s closure?]
Romualdez said there have been speculations of corruption as there are not enough details released about the plans to upgrade the bridge.
He said he wants the public to see who conducted the feasibility study, what is the extent of the damage, and how long the retrofitting will last.
“This is not the first time. 20 years ago that bridge was repaired and ample time was given to the public,” the mayor said, adding that areas affected were given six months back then to prepare for the bridge’s closure.
“It is not only affecting the economy of the region but I think it is definitely affecting the economy of the country as a whole,” he added.
The DPWH earlier said the administration is preparing to construct a new and “longer” bridge near the existing San Juanico bridge between the provinces of Leyte and Samar.
