In line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to ensure public safety and mobility, government offices and private sectors are now offering free shuttle services, which will help ease travel disruptions during the San Juanico Bridge rehabilitation.
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan said the department has started coordinating with the local government and other government offices to minimize the public’s inconvenience during the bridge repair.
“We will provide (shuttle), actually, free naman po itong shuttle. As long as kailangan po ng shuttle, iyan po ang arrangement natin,” Bonoan said in a press briefing at Malacañan Palace on Wednesday.
The DPWH assured the public that several mitigating measures are in place to address the impact of temporary vehicle restrictions on the San Juanico Bridge while it is being retrofitted and rehabilitated.
“Sa ngayon, as I speak, ginagawa po ‘yung immediate retrofitting doon sa mga segments that are found to be deteriorated at saka dangerous for heavy loads. We are expediting the process,” Bonoan said.
Starting May 14, authorities imposed a three-ton weight limit on all vehicles crossing the San Juanico Bridge.
Bonoan explained that the weight limit is only temporary and will be adjusted after the retrofitting process is completed.
“In the next few months, actually, ‘pag natapos po namin iyong retrofitting of some of the segments, we might be able to increase a little bit on the load limits po,” he said.
To mitigate the effects of vehicle restrictions, the DPWH, in coordination with the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and local government units, has implemented several measures, such as providing free shuttle services for affected passengers.
Bonoan added that the PPA is considering rerouting cargo shipments from Luzon through alternative ports, specifically redirecting shipments from the Port of Matnog in Sorsogon to Carigara Port in Leyte to avoid further burdening the San Juanico Bridge.
The DPWH chief said the department is also closely coordinating with the PNP to manage traffic flow and ensure public safety.
Meanwhile, Bonoan announced plans to construct a new bridge adjacent to the existing 2.6-kilometer San Juanico Bridge.
Bonoan said the new bridge will be longer than the existing bridge and will be financed through official development assistance from the Japanese government.
“This will be one of the flagship projects under this administration. It is now under detailed engineering design. We hope that the detailed engineering design will be completed by 2026 and the construction will follow immediately,” Bonoan said. | PND
