Marcos wants 12 tons load capacity in San Juanico by December 2025

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said Friday that he wants to increase the load limits of San Juanico Bridge to 12 tons by December this year.

“Ang schedule namin dapat by December, before the end of the year, ang pwede ng gamitin na sasakyan hanggang 12 tons,” Marcos said during an episode of BBM Podcast. 

(Our schedule is that by December, before the end of the year, vehicles up to 12 tons can be allowed.) 

“That’s a test, sabi ko pag hindi niyo natapos ‘yan, tatanggapin ko ‘yung resignation ninyo,” Marcos warned.

(That’s a test, if you don’t finish that, I’ll accept your resignation.) 

The President apologized to the residents in Samar and Leyte who were affected by the rehabilitation, saying that the government wants to ensure their safety. 

“Well sorry na nangyari ito, alam ko ‘yung nararanasan ninyo, nararanasan ng ating mga transport operators, nararanasan ng ating mga negosyante,” Marcos said. 

(I’m sorry that this happened, I know your experience, the experiences of our transport operators and businessmen.) 

“Kaya asahan ninyo minamadali namin na maayos kaagad ito,” he added. 

(I assure you that we are doing everything to immediately address this.) 

In May, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan said that the present load limits of San Juanico Bridge amid its rehabilitation might be increased in the next months.

He said the increase in the load limits could be implemented in the last quarter of this year.

Bonoan added that the full capacity of the existing San Juanico Bridge would be undertaken ''as soon as the new bridge is actually constructed.''

According to the DPWH, 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 third longest bridge spanning a body of seawater in the Philippines, connecting the islands of Samar and Leyte.

It was a project of the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News