Marcos: Over P500M allotted to restore San Juanico bridge load limit

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. said Monday that more than P500 million has already been allocated to restore San Juanico Bridge's load limit to 12 to 15 metric tons by December 2025. 

Speaking at the grand launch of Phases 2 and 3 of the National Fiber Backbone (NFB) project in Palo, Leyte, Marcos tasked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to expedite the retrofitting and complete restoration of the bridge, citing its burden to residents, businesses, and travelers in the region.

''May higit kalahating bilyong piso na pondo ang nakalaan para maibalik sa labindawala hanggang labinlimang metric tons ang load limit sa susunod na Disyembre,'' Marcos said in his speech.

(More than P500 million was allocated to return the load limit to 12 to 15 metric tons by December.) 

Earlier, the President said he wants to increase the load limits of San Juanico Bridge to 12 tons by December this year.

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

In May, 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. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News