San Juanico Bridge repair now at PHP 5.9 billion
Back in 2022, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said that the repair cost of the San Juanico Bridge, which connects the Samar and Leyte provinces, is PHP 84.7 million. Now, according to the Regional Development Council (RDC) Eastern Visayas, the total repair cost of the iconic bridge has ballooned to PHP 5.9 billion. This bill to Juan dela Cruz was endorsed by RDC Eastern Visayas from a request from the DPWH.
Meylene Rosales, RDC Eastern Visayas Vice Chair and Regional Director of the Department of Economy, Planning and Development, provided the following breakdown of the PHP 5.9 billion funding request:
PHP 1.96 billion for dry shotcrete application
PHP 1.62 billion for foundation retrofitting
PHP 1.09 billion for girder retrofitting
PHP 437.55 million for box and truss
PHP 345.57 million for bearing replacement
PHP 225.72 million for painting works
PHP 164.08 million for catwalks
PHP 52.83 million for joint expansion
Rosales also stated that the RDC passed a resolution to include the proposed budget in the DPWH's 2026 and 2027 General Appropriations Act, aiming to complete the repairs within two years.
“Per the budget calendar, it is still realistic to add the proposed budget since the process for the 2026 budget approval is ongoing. We recommend to the DPWH to come up with a program of works for the multi-year contract authority,” said Rosales.
With no funds allocated this year for the bridge’s repair, the RDC is urgently requesting the immediate release of PHP 500 million in calamity funds. They argue that the crisis warrants such action to begin work on the 2.16-kilometer San Juanico Bridge, which is a crucial artery connecting the country’s three major island groups. The DPWH’s updated analysis indicates that extensive repair and rehabilitation of the entire bridge are necessary. Currently, the DPWH regional office is finalizing plans and cost estimates, prioritizing repair methods that will not require a full closure. The existing three-ton load limit, in effect since May 15, has already disrupted logistics for Leyte and Samar, prompting the identification of several ports as alternative roll-on, roll-off routes for cargo trucks.
With PHP 9.17 billion earmarked for a second San Juanico Bridge aimed for completion within PBBM’s term, one might ask: would the government achieve better long-term value by preserving the current bridge with its limited functionality until the new one is completed, while also investing that substantial sum into that more expansive and resilient new structure?
