President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday placed Eastern Visayas under a state of calamity due to “escalating risk” following the rehabilitation of the San Juanico Bridge.
Under Proclamation No. 920 dated June 5, the declaration of state of calamity will be effective “for one year beginning this date, unless earlier lifted or extended as circumstances may warrant.”
“The declaration of a State of Calamity will, among others, hasten the repair and rehabilitation of the San Juanico Bridge, and afford the National Government, as well as local government units (LGUs), ample latitude to utilize appropriate funds for the repair and safety upgrading of the subject public infrastructure,” the proclamation read.
The declaration was in response to the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), according to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).
Completed in 1973, the 2.16-kilometer San Juanico Bridge is the only permanent land link between Leyte and Samar Islands.
It is also the major road component of the Pan-Philippine Highway, linking Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
The national government on May 15 imposed a temporary three-ton vehicle gross weight limit on the San Juanico Bridge due to its “structural vulnerabilities,” causing a major disruption in the transportation of goods and other economic activities in the region.
“There is an urgent need to repair and rehabilitate the San Juanico Bridge to ensure timely delivery of essential goods and services and restore regional mobility,” Mr. Marcos said.
Following the declaration, the President ordered the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to “expedite all measures necessary to repair and rehabilitate the San Juanico Bridge fully.”
Marcos also directed the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to assist the DPWH in “identifying appropriate and sufficient funding sources” for the rehabilitation works.
