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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Ano naging ambag niya?': House spox responds to Imee Marcos on San Juanico Bridge issue

'Ano naging ambag niya?': House spox responds to Imee Marcos on San Juanico Bridge issue

Published Jun 18, 2025 01:58 pm

At A Glance

  • What has Senator Imee Marcos contributed in the effort to fix up the San Juanico Bridge? House of Representatives spokesperson, lawyer Princess Abante left this question in the minds of the public amid Senator Marcos' tirades against the House for allegedly allocating mere pennies to the Visayas bridge's rehabilitation.
Senator Imee Marcos (Facebook)
Senator Imee Marcos (Facebook)

What has Senator Imee Marcos contributed in the effort to fix up the San Juanico Bridge?
House of Representatives spokesperson, lawyer Princess Abante left this question in the minds of the public amid Senator Marcos' tirades against the House for allegedly allocating mere pennies to the Visayas bridge's rehabilitation.
In a press conference Wednesday, June 18, Abante belied the lady senator's claim that the allocation for the bridge from 2018 to 2025 can only cover pintura at konting rehabilitation (paint and minimal rehabilitation).
Ito public records naman to no. Yung mga budget allocated to the San Juanico Bridge, since 2018 pa, even the time na bago pa naging Speaker si Speaker Martin Romualdez. And bilang isang taga-tacloban, as the representative for that region, talagang part of his advocacy to make sure na may akmang mga pondo para sa programa at proyekto sa kanyang pinaglilingkuran, she said.
(These are public records. The budget allocations for the San Juanico Bridge go all the way back to 2018, even before Speaker Martin Romualdez assumed his post as Speaker. And as someone from Tacloban, serving as the representative of that region, it has truly been part of his advocacy to ensure appropriate funding for the programs and projects that serve his constituents.)
Makikita natin na tuloy tuloy naman ang naging budget allocation para sa San Juanico Bridge for its maintenance, rehabilitation (We can see that the budget allocations for the San Juanico Bridge have remained consistent, particularly for its maintenance and rehabilitation), Abante added.
San Juanico Bridge--the only land route connecting Leyte and Samar in the Visayas--had been partially closed for much-needed repairs.
Commenting on the state of the bridge, Senator Marcos said: Na-neglect ng todo-todo, nang bonggang bongga yung tulay (The bridge had been totally and astoundingly neglected). I feel very badly personally about it.
To this, Abante said: Siiguro si Senator Imee, since she is very much concerned, kailangan din nating tanungin ano naging ambag niya bilang senador na kasama naman sa tungkulin niya ang pag-ayos ng budget ng bansa doon sa pangangalaga ng San Juanico Bridge.
(Perhaps Senator Imee, since she is very much concerned, should also be asked what her contribution has been as a senator, especially since it's part of her duty to help shape the national budget when it comes to the care and upkeep of the San Juanico Bridge.)
It had previously been brought up in plenary discussions that P399.1 million have been appropriated by Congress for the rehabilitation and repair of the 52-year-old bridge.
Based on data from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the following amounts were appropriated: ₱27 million in 2018; ₱22.2 million in 2019; ₱105 million in 2021; ₱4.3 million, for emergency repairs; ₱90.6 million in 2022; and ₱150 million in 2023.
Romualdez is Leyte's 1st district representative.
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