OCD recommends state of calamity in Eastern Visayas
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) suggested to President Marcos Jr. the declarataion of a state of calamity in Eastern Visayas (Region 8) amid logistical and economic challenges posed by load restrictions at San Juanico Bridge.
OCD spokesperson Director Chris Noel Bendijo said the declaration will accelerate the release of essential funds and enable the immediate rehabilitation of the iconic bridge, thus, restoring vital logistics and public services.
“The sooner that we repair the San Juanico Bridge, the sooner that our commerce, supplies, and logistics will be back to normal,” Bendijo said Saturday, May 31.
To recall, the San Juanico Bridge was partially closed to motorists after the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) imposed a three-ton weight limit last May 14 due to the bridge’s deteriorating condition. Due to this, a state of emergency has been declared across the Samar province.
As a key part of the Maharlika Highway, the bridge is vital for inter-island mobility, economic activity, and national connectivity. It is used daily by over 14,000 vehicles, including 1,396 heavy vehicles.
Engineering assessments have revealed widespread corrosion, deformed steel members, and deteriorated connections. Immediate responses include restricting vehicle loads, managing one-way traffic for light vehicles, and deploying barge transport for heavy cargo.
The load limit on the San Juanico Bridge has since stranded over 200 vehicles and is projected to cause between P300 million and P600 million in monthly economic losses.
Bendijo said that alternative measures have been put in place during the regulated movement on the bridge, including additional roll-on/roll-off vessels, the restoration of old ports, and free transport and passenger support.
“But this may not suffice, and we don’t want our suppliers to incur additional costs because this might impact the prices of goods,” the OCD spokesman stated.
“The declaration will enable us to access the appropriate funds for the bridge repair. We can also fix the other ports for additional options to maintain connectivity between Samar and Leyte,” he continued.
However, the official deferred to the DPWH to determine the amount of potential funding for the rehabilitation of the San Juanico Bridge.
Bendijo said the DPWH is responsible for identifying how much money is needed for the repair. The OCD will then study, verify, and endorse it to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) before it is suggested to the Office of the President.
Further, the OCD has also coordinated with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) over the imposition of a price freeze to control the costs of basic commodities in anticipation of supply chain disruptions.
“We are also looking at subsidizing other expenses to ease the plight of our countrymen and the flow of business,” Bendijo said.