TACLOBAN CITY — The San Juanico Bridge lighting project will be bid out on Feb. 18 after months of extensive review of technical details by the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA).
Department of Tourism (DOT) Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes said four developers have expressed their intention to join the bidding for the first bridge lighting project in the country.
“All things are going smoothly. We will now see the start of construction work within two months after issuing the notice to proceed on Feb. 24,” Tiopes told reporters on Tuesday.
The official is confident that the project will be completed within the year with the availability of PHP80 million funds from TIEZA.
Under the initial proposal of local governments, the project will use light-emitting diodes, one of today’s most energy-efficient and rapidly-developing lighting technologies.
It was proposed that there would be a 10-minute light show for six times nightly that may include water, light, and laser aspects. Every night, there would be six-hour park mode or static mode lights with the subtle movement of lights.
Just like other shows, its colors will be in support of various events throughout the year, the lighting will also be programmed to celebrate special occasions.
Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan had shared the idea of illuminating the iconic bridge to Tacloban City Mayor Cristina Romualdez, Regional Development Council chairperson, in an effort to add vibrancy and interest to nigh time tourism.
At present, tourists can enjoy daytime activities at the San Juanico Bridge through the tour packages offered by private operator, Aqua Momentum.
The bridge’s transformation would be a new attraction under the Spark Samar, a branding campaign initially launched in 2015.
Once called the Marcos Bridge, the San Juanico Bridge was built in August 1969 over the San Juanico Strait, the narrowest navigational strait in the world that separates Samar and Leyte Islands, and was completed in December 1972.
The bridge that spans 2.162-kilometer was built as part of the Pan-Philippine Highway now called the Maharlika Highway, a network of roads, bridges, and sea routes that connect the islands of Luzon, Samar, Leyte, and Mindanao.
