Tacloban: The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional office here announced its plan to restore the 33-ton load capacity of the San Juanico Bridge by the end of 2025.

According to Philippines News Agency, this revised plan, developed by consultant Angel Lazaro and Associates International, considers funding, resources, and a five-month civil works target as directed by DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan. The restoration aims to allow access for larger vehicles currently restricted due to the existing three-ton weight limit on the bridge.

The 33-ton load limit significantly exceeds the previous 10 to 12-ton target set during a May 30 meeting between DPWH and the consultant. While the focus remains on strengthening the bridge for a higher load limit, a comprehensive rehabilitation is planned for the future.

Meanwhile, the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) reported that improvement works for the Amadayehan Port in Basey, Samar, are progressing well. This development is crucial as the Tacloban-Amandayehan route is the quickest option for heavy trucks traveling from Samar to Tacloban, which have been restricted from the 2.16-kilometer San Juanico Bridge since mid-May.

The opening of the Basey port next week is expected to double the number of trucks crossing between Leyte and Samar. Currently, an average of 450 trucks use roll-on, roll-off (RoRo) vessels via the Calbayog-Ormoc-Calbayog route daily. The new route between Tacloban City and Basey, Samar, will allow up to 1,000 trucks daily.

RDRRMC chairman Lord Byron Torrecarion, regional director of the Office of Civil Defense, stated that RoRo vessels could carry up to 600 trucks daily across the San Juanico Strait, reducing travel time to under 30 minutes. Since mid-May, cargo trucks have been using the RoRo route between Calbayog City in Samar and Ormoc City in Leyte, which takes 13 hours.

The current cost for crossing from Samar to Leyte via Calbayog to Ormoc is PHP17,000 per truck, in addition to a PHP4,000 fare between Sorsogon and Northern Samar. With the opening of Amandayehan Port, the proposed rate for crossing the San Juanico Strait will be just PHP3,000 per truck.