Tacloban city: The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has commenced activities to reinforce the San Juanico Bridge while awaiting the allocation of funds from the national government, as confirmed by an official on Thursday.

According to Philippines News Agency, the DPWH regional office has enlisted the assistance of five local contractors to implement the shoring method before retrofitting works begin. Ferdinand Fabile, the DPWH engineer overseeing the project, explained in a press briefing that bridge shoring involves using a temporary support system during construction, repair, or demolition to prevent the structure from collapsing or shifting. This process includes installing structures to brace the bridge, ensuring its stability.

Fabile informed reporters, “The regional office asked the help of five local contractors to implement shoring since there is already a commitment from the national government to release funds. We are using all local resources available.” The DPWH regional office has successfully completed the shoring method in nine of the 42 spans of the 2.16-km bridge connecting Leyte and Samar provinces.

The DPWH is optimistic that the PHP520-million budget required for retrofitting will be released shortly, which is expected to increase the bridge’s capacity to 15 tons by the year’s end, up from the current three-ton load limit. This funding will be sourced from the 2025 National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management funds, previously requested by the Eastern Visayas Regional Development Council. Additionally, the DPWH is committed to completing the retrofitting works on the San Juanico Bridge by December this year.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. had earlier directed an acceleration of the retrofitting activities to enhance the bridge’s load capacity before the year’s end to mitigate the ongoing traffic and logistical delays. During his visit to Palo, Leyte, on July 7, the President recognized the growing public dissatisfaction due to the current restrictions on the San Juanico Bridge. The bridge, which is 52 years old, has had a load limit preventing trucks and buses from crossing since May 15, leading to logistical challenges in Leyte and Samar. In response, several ports in the Leyte and Samar islands have been opened as alternative roll-on, roll-off routes for cargo trucks.