STA. RITA, Samar -- The once gloomy San Juanico Bridge turned alive as President Marcos Jr. led the San Juanico Aesthetic Lights and Sound Show Lights Up Ceremony on Thursday night, Oct. 19.
After three years of delay, bright light-colored red, blue, and green waved in the air leaving goosebumps to all the guests and spectators.
"The bridge holds a special place in my heart since this was completed during the term of my father. I am delighted to witness the lighting," President Marcos Jr. said during the ceremony.
The San Juanico Bridge was built during the term of his father and namesake Ferdinand Marcos Sr. in 1973.
It was named after his father and was believed to have been constructed for his wife, Imelda, who hails from Tolosa, Leyte.
It was also the first development assistance project from the Japanese government to link the islands of Samar and Leyte.
The President said that he looks forward to seeing the bridge as a site to behold not only during the day but also even during the night.
"It is my earnest desire that this lighting project will encourage the people of Samar and Leyte and the rest of the country to pursue programs that will pave the way for long-lasting impacts in the lives of our fellow Filipinos," the President said.
He also pointed out that the San Juanico Bridge was built for Samar and not just for Leyte. The purpose was to give Samar some of the advantages that the island of Leyte has.
The president was joined by Tourism Secretary Ma. Cristina Frasco, Mark Lapid, Chief Operating Officer of TIEZA, and other officials of the government.
Governor Sharee Ann Tan who welcomed the guests in an intimate dinner at Pascualino's Restaurant in Brgy. San Juan here felt nostalgic as she recalled their effort to make the project possible.
“Tonight, we are going to rewrite the bridge in history books as the first bridge in the country with aesthetic light,”
Samar 2nd District Rep. Reynolds Michael Tan felt elated that no less than the chief executive led the lighting of the iconic bridge.
"This is a big deal for us because aside from the fact that the president is very popular here in Samar, no less than his father made its construction possible 49 years ago. Now, we get to have another ceremony here with him as the president," Rep. Tan said.
The bridge will light steadily from Mondays to Thursdays, while the laser lighting show will be on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
Rep. Tan shared that the light show will span for about 15-20 minutes with an interval of 30 minutes from 6 p.m. onwards based on their early discussions.
He added that the Provincial Government has lined up more activities to spark tourism activity in Sta. Rita, where the Samar side of the bridge is located.
"Hopefully it will provide economic benefits for the whole region. In the years to come, we plan to develop this into the Spark City," he shared.
The Provincial Government of Samar has allocated P6 million for the electricity and maintenance of the lighting project.
Tan said that the province will construct a boardwalk and develop livelihood opportunities for the locals.
"We will have a mix-use area for government offices, business establishments, and residential areas to stimulate the economy in the area," he said.