BILIRAN: The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has announced plans to construct an alternate bridge connecting Biliran province to mainland Leyte, addressing the deteriorating state of the current Biliran Bridge. This development follows heightened concerns after a video of the bridge swaying went viral.
According to Philippines News Agency, DPWH Biliran district engineering office chief, Irwin Antonio, revealed that the proposal for a new bridge had been longstanding, predating recent public concern. "This is the only main link to Biliran province. It's already in the pipeline, and it's being studied now, looking at what the contributing factors are after which we will be funding the construction of a new bridge," Antonio stated.
In 2021, there was a PHP500 million budget proposal for the inclusion of this project in the 2022 appropriation, but it was not funded. Antonio emphasized the importance of enhancing connectivity and reducing risks, stating that DPWH will continue to advocate for the construction of a parallel bridge.
The proposed bridge would serve as an alternate route, increasing the overall traffic capacity by adding more tonnage and lanes. Discussions about this new infrastructure intensified after videos of the swaying Biliran Bridge circulated online in late December.
Since December 23, heavy vehicles, including food supply and fuel trucks, have been banned from the bridge, with only light vehicles allowed passage. A December 24 inspection by DPWH Biliran office technical engineers identified faulty components, such as bridge stringers, steel cross bracing, and loose nuts and bolts, under the deck slab.
Antonio attributed the swaying effect to wind gusts resonating with the bridge's forces, compounded by reduced stiffness from age and corrosion due to sea exposure. The DPWH clarified that a PHP50 million repair in 2022 was unrelated to the current issues. To mitigate disruptions, the agency recommends barge transport for cargo trucks and fuel tankers during ongoing repairs, which began on the Leyte side on December 27.
The Biliran Bridge, constructed in 1976, remains the island's sole land connection to Leyte, underscoring the urgency for a reliable alternate route.
