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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Visayas devider DPWH chief orders rebuilding of collapsed Samar bridge in 2 years

DPWH chief orders rebuilding of collapsed Samar bridge in 2 years

Published Feb 3, 2026 02:37 pm
GANDARA Bridge under construction.
GANDARA Bridge under construction.
TACLOBAN CITY – Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon has ordered the completion of the P510-million reconstruction of the Gandara Bridge in Samar that collapsed more than five years ago.
During his visit on Monday, Dizon was displeased by delays in rebuilding the bridge in the town center of Gandara despite a P290-million allocation since 2021.
“I order the completion of the bridge before the end of 2027 to prevent further inconvenience to local residents,” Dizon told reporters after the inspection.
When confronted by Dizon, DPWH-Samar engineers and the contractor said the project had been delayed due to road right-of-way acquisition issues, project modifications requested by the local government, and frequent rainfall in the area.
Of the P290 million released for the project, some P40 million was disbursed in 2021, P100 million in 2023, and P150 million in 2025. Activities funded under the 2023 and 2025 allocations are still ongoing.
Dizon said that the remaining P220 million under the 2027 and 2028 budgets will be handled by the DPWH regional office because he has “no confidence” in the capability of the DPWH field officials in Samar to implement the project.
The bridge in Gandara was built when the Maharlika Highway from Luzon to Mindanao was constructed in 1968. The structure sustained major structural damage when it buckled under the weight of a truck carrying a crane in October 2020.
Residents currently need to take a longer route via Gandara Bridge II along the bypass road to reach the school and market. (PNA)

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