The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) over the weekend said it is seriously considering the declaration of ‘State of Calamity’ across Eastern Visayas, calling it a vital step toward addressing the logistical and economic challenges posed by load restrictions at the San Juanico Bridge.
According to the OCD, this move follows the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to place the entire region under a state of calamity.
In a radio interview, OCD spokesperson Director Chris Noel Bendijo emphasized that the declaration will accelerate the release of essential funds and enable immediate rehabilitation of the San Juanico Bridge to restore vital logistics and public services.
“The sooner that we repair the San Juanico Bridge, the sooner that our commerce, supplies, and logistics will be back to normal,” Bendijo said.
He said alternative measures have been put in place during the regulated movement on the bridge, including additional roll-on/roll-off vessels, the restoration of old ports, and free transport and passenger support.
“But this may not suffice, and we don’t want our suppliers to incur additional costs because this might impact the prices of goods,” Bendijo added.
“The declaration will enable us to access the appropriate funds for the bridge repair. We can also fix the other ports for additional options to maintain connectivity between Samar and Leyte,” he said, echoing the directive of the President.
When asked about the potential funding for the bridge rehabilitation, Bendijo explained they will defer to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
“They are the ones who can tell how much money is needed for the repair, and the OCD will study it and verify this and endorse it to the NDRRMC, which will in turn make the suggestion to the Office of the President,” he said.
Bendijo also shared that they are coordinating with the Department of Trade and Industry, which has imposed a price freeze to control the costs of basic commodities amid the expected supply chain disruptions.
“We are also looking at subsidizing other expenses to ease the plight of our countrymen and the flow of business,” he added.
The load limit on the San Juanico Bridge, in effect since May 15, has stranded over 200 vehicles and is projected to cause between P300 million and P600 million in monthly economic losses.
