Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. placed Eastern Visayas under a state of calamity for a year to expedite the repair and rehabilitation of the San Juanico Bridge, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) announced on Tuesday.
According to Philippines News Agency, Marcos issued Proclamation 920 declaring a year-long state of calamity in Eastern Visayas starting on June 5, "unless earlier lifted or extended as circumstances may warrant," to mitigate the impact of San Juanico Bridge repair on the residents of Samar and Leyte. Marcos signed the proclamation upon the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, considering the "compromised state of the San Juanico Bridge," according to the PCO news release.
"There is hereby declared a State of Calamity in Region VIII (Eastern Visayas) on account of escalating risks caused by significant structural compromises in San Juanico Bridge, for one year beginning this date, unless earlier lifted or extended as circumstances may warrant," Proclamation 920 read, as quoted by the PCO. "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 added.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is directed to coordinate with concerned local government units to "expedite all measures necessary to repair and rehabilitate the San Juanico Bridge fully." The Department of Budget and Management is ordered to assist the DPWH in "identifying appropriate and sufficient funding sources" to support the repair and rehabilitation of the vital bridge.
Law enforcement agencies, with support from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, are instructed to undertake urgent response to ensure the safety of the people affected by the San Juanico Bridge's "critical condition." They are also tasked to implement necessary measures to ensure peace and order in the affected areas.
Proclamation 920 orders all departments, agencies, bureaus and offices of the national government, and encourages all LGUs and the private sector to "fully support, cooperate, and mobilize the necessary resources to undertake critical, urgent and appropriate measures promptly to repair and rehabilitate the San Juanico Bridge fully." The 2.16-kilometer bridge serves as the only permanent land link between the islands of Samar and Leyte and a key component of the Pan-Philippine Highway (Maharlika Highway/AH26), which connects Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
Based on the DPWH assessment, San Juanico Bridge was found to be in critical condition, prompting the imposition of a strict three-ton vehicle load limit effective May 15. The restriction halted the passage of heavy cargo vehicles, severely disrupting the transport of food, medicine, agricultural products, construction materials and other essential commodities across Eastern Visayas. "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," Marcos said. Malaca±ang has yet to release a copy of Proclamation 920.
