President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has declared a state of calamity in Eastern Visayas for a year to hasten the repair and rehabilitation of the San Juanico Bridge and mitigate the impact on residents of Samar and Leyte.

Marcos Jr. said the state of calamity for one year was based on the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) due to the compromised state of the San Juanico Bridge. 

“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, ample latitude to utilize appropriate funds for the repair and safety upgrading of the subject public infrastructure,” the proclamation read.

The 2.16-kilometer San Juanico Bridge serves as the only permanent land link between the islands of Samar and Leyte and a key component of the Pan-Philippine Highway which connects Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

Under Proclamation No. 920, the president directed the Department of Public Works and Highways DPWH in coordination with concerned local government units to expedite all measures necessary to repair and rehabilitate the San Juanico Bridge fully.

Marcos Jr. also ordered the Department of Budget and Management to assist the DPWH in identifying appropriate and sufficient funding sources to support the repair and rehabilitation of the vital bridge.

Meanwhile law enforcement agencies, with support from the AFP, were directed to undertake urgent response to ensure the safety of the people affected by the condition of the bridge, as well as all necessary measures to ensure peace and order in the affected areas.

The President said the DPWH assessment found San Juanico Bridge to be in critical condition, prompting the imposition of a strict three-ton vehicle load limit effective May 15 with the restriction effectively halted the passage of heavy cargo vehicles, severely disrupting the transport of food, medicine, 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,” the President said.