5 days ago
San Juanico Bridge rehab costs P7B, monthly loss at P600M —NDRRMC
Around P7 billion is needed for the repair and rehabilitation of San Juanico Bridge amid concerns on its structural integrity, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said.
'The estimated cost of repair and rehabilitation by the DPWH amounts to P7 billion, and any delay in fund release would further escalate the crisis,' the NDRRMC said in a resolution dated May 25.
According to the NDRRMC, the restrictions on San Juanico Bridge could result in up to P600 million monthly economic losses as 14,000 vehicles cross the infrastructure daily.
'The abrupt imposition of restrictions has stranded more than 200 vehicles and is projected to result in monthly economic losses ranging from P300 million and P600 million,' the NDRRMC said.
Among the affected sectors are food and fuel supply, delivery of healthcare services, commercial distribution, and regional trade.
State of calamity, state of emergency
Due to this, the NDRRMC has recommended to President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. to declare a state of calamity in the entire region of Eastern Visayas.
Currently, Tacloban City and Samar Province are under a state of emergency.
Completed in 1972, San Juanico Bridge is the only permanent land link between the islands of Samar and Leyte. It is a vital artery of the Maharlika Highway that connects Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
A three-ton load limit has been imposed on San Juanico Bridge since May 15 after an assessment showed that there are significant structural compromises to the bridge.
Only the middle portion of the bridge is open for motorists.
This restriction halted the passage of heavy cargo vehicles, severely disrupting the transport of food, medicine, agricultural products, construction materials, and other essential commodities across the region.
Green lane
To ease the impact, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) spokesperson Chris Noel Bendijo on Friday said old ports and additional permits for landing craft tanks are being considered to ferry affected trucks.
As the upcoming rainy season may limit the number of roll-on/roll-off (RORO) operations, Bendito said the agency is still looking into possible solutions.
The OCD is planning to designate a 'green lane' for basic commodities on San Juanico Bridge.
There is also a proposal to construct another bridge to have more alternative routes in the affected areas, according to the OCD spokesperson.
'Sa madaling salita po, lahat ng ating posibleng maging solusyon ay tinututukan po ng OCD (In short, all of possible solutions are being studied by the OCD),' Bendito said.—AOL, GMA Integrated News
