DPWH rushing San Juanico Bridge repair to meet December 2025 deadline

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is expediting the repairs of San Juanico Bridge to increase its load limit to 12 - 15 tons by December this year, Secretary Manuel Bonoan said Sunday.

“Ongoing ang repairs sa San Juanico Bridge at pinapaspasan na namin para makaabot kami sa deadline ng Presidente,” Bonoan told Super Radyo dzBB.

(Repairs on the San Juanico Bridge are ongoing, and we’re expediting the work to meet President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s deadline.)

This move came after Marcos said he wanted to restore the bridge's capacity after a three-ton load limit had been imposed since May 15, after an assessment showed that there are significant structural compromises to the bridge.

“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 had said more than P500 million has already been allocated for the San Juanico Bridge’s repair.

Last May, the Tacloban City Council declared a state of emergency as access to San Juanico Bridge, which links the islands of Samar and Leyte in Eastern Visayas, remains limited ahead of planned repairs on the structure. — RF, GMA Integrated News