House to Imee Marcos: Congressmen delivered on funding for San Juanico Bridge

The House of Representatives hit back at Senator Imee Marcos following her criticism over the state of the San Juanico Bridge.

On Thursday, Marcos wondered why the House was looking for her contributions as a senator for the bridge's upkeep and not directly asking her cousin, Speaker Martin Romualdez, who hails from Leyte province. 

At a press conference on Friday, House spokesperson Princess Abante said they had long initiated funding for the landmark infrastructure.

“Una, bilang senador, kasama din sa tungkulin niya ‘yung pagbalangkas ng budget ng bansa. Galing sa House, papunta sa Senate,” Abante said. 

(First, as a senator, her duties also include drafting the country's budget. From the House, the proposed national budget will be scrutinized in the Senate.)

“Kaya nung kinuwestiyon niya kung ano ang nangyayari sa pangangalaga ng San Juanico Bridge, eh sinagot lang natin na alam ko, sigurado ako based on records may pondong nailagay for the maintenance ng San Juanico Bridge since 2018, mismo advocated by the congressman of the 1st District of Leyte, [Speaker Romualdez],” she added.

(When she questioned what was happening with regards to the maintenance of the San Juanico Bridge, we just answered that I know, I am sure based on records there has been funding allocated for the maintenance of the San Juanico Bridge since 2018, itself advocated by the congressman of the 1st District of Leyte.)

Abante said that the House had secured P27 million in funding for the bridge in 2018, followed by P22 million in 2019, P105 million in 2021, P90 million in 2022, and P150 million in 2023.

The House proposes to raise that amount to P400 million in 2026.

“Ngayon kung tatanungin niya ano ‘yung nangyayari, dapat tanungin din bilang senador ano ang nagawa niya para sa San Juanico Bridge. Tutal, hindi pwedeng tanong lang nang tanong. Kailangan nagtatrabaho,” she said.

(Now if she asks what is happening, she should also be asked as a senator what she has done for the San Juanico Bridge. After all, we can't just ask questions. We need to work.)

“This is a concrete initiative of the House of Representatives. Gusto rin nating malaman ano rin ang initiative ng Senado, tutal gusto nilang malaman kung ano ang nangyayari. Nasa posisyon sila para gumawa ng solusyon, hindi maghanap ng sisi,” Abante said.

(This is a concrete initiative of the House of Representatives. We also want to know what the Senate initiative is, because they want to know what is happening. They are in a position to create solutions, not find blame.)

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has issued Proclamation 920, placing Eastern Visayas under a state of calamity for a year, to give way for the repairs on San Juanico Bridge.

President Marcos said the state of calamity took effect on June 5 and may be lifted earlier or extended depending on the circumstances.

The 2.16-kilometer San Juanico Bridge, one of the longest in the Philippines, links Samar and Leyte provinces in the Visayas. — Jiselle Anne Casucian/BAP/VBL, GMA Integrated News