Marcos: Inspection of San Juanico Bridge must be every three years

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. underscored Wednesday that there is a need to inspect the maintenance of the San Juanico Bridge every three years to ensure that it is safe. 

Marcos made the remark as he inspected the Amandayehan Port in Basey, Samar, an alternative route, which is being used by vehicles that are not allowed to pass through San Juanico Bridge amid its rehabilitation. 

''Noong nag-inspection ang DPWH para nga sa rehabilitation, ika nila delikado na 'tong tulay na ito, 'di namin akalain na ganito kasama dahil siguro hindi namin malaman, hindi ginawa nang mabuti ang maintenance ng tulay. Dapat diyan every three years, binabalik-balikan,'' Marcos told reporters. 

(When the DPWH conducted an inspection for the rehabilitation, they said it's already dangerous. We didn't expect that this was already worse, maybe the maintenance was not properly done. It should be done every three years.) 

''Tinatanong ko sa mga local, sa ating mga kababayan, kung talagang nagagawa ba noon 'yung every three years, mukhang hindi. Kaya nagkaganito, kaya ang inabot namin talagang sira-sira na,'' he added. 

(I asked the locals if the inspection was being done every three years. It seems not. So this happened and the bridge was already damaged.) 

According to the Department of Public Works and Highways, the recent assessment raised concerns about San Juanico Bridge's structural integrity. It temporarily prohibited vehicles weighing more than three tons from crossing the 2.16-kilometer bridge.

Built in 1969 and completed in 1973, San Juanico Bridge is the the third longest bridge spanning a body of seawater in the Philippines, connecting the islands of Samar and Leyte.

It was a project of late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

Amid the rehabilitation of the bridge, Marcos said the government would impose measures to ensure that the flow of goods would remain unhampered. 

''Baka 'yung traffic sa San Juanico mapalitan natin 'yung sistema para mas mabilis. Nakausap namin 'yung isang driver ng truck, ang reklamo naman nila ang dala nila gulay eh nagaantay sila dito tatlo, apat na araw... eh siyempre hindi naman refrigerated van 'yan kaya wala nasisira 'yung kanilang produkto,'' Marcos said. 

(We need to improve the traffic situation in San Juanico. We talked to one of the truck drivers and their complaint was that they brought vegetables and they've been here for three to four days. It's not a refrigerated van so the goods will perish.) 

''Kaya gagawa kami ng sistema para mauna 'yung perishable goods,'' he added. 

(We will enforce a system to prioritize the perishable goods.) 

He also admitted that inevitably, the transportation costs will go up amid the bridge's rehabilitation. Marcos added that the government would extend aid to those who will be affected with this increase. 

''We can provide some assistance, but we cannot cover all of the price increase,'' Marcos said.

Marcos has issued Proclamation No. 920, placing Eastern Visayas under a state of calamity for a year, to give way for the repairs on San Juanico Bridge.

Asked when will it be lifted, Marcos answered, ''When the traffic has returned to normal.''

Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan has said that the present load limits of San Juanico Bridge amid its rehabilitation might be increased in the coming months.

The increase in the load limits could be implemented in the last quarter of this year, Bonoan said. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News