By Sarwell Meniano | Philippine News Agency
Barriers will be put at the approach of the 2.16-km. San Juanico Bridge to prevent cargo trucks and buses from plying the 52-year old structure and lessen structural deterioration.
Built in August 1969 and completed in 1973, the San Juanico Bridge stretches from Samar to Leyte Island, and is the longest bridge along the Pan-Philippine Highway that connects Luzon and Mindanao.
During a meeting organized by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Eastern Visayas regional office on Wednesday, May 13, officials initially agreed to set the three-ton limit to prevent further bridge deterioration.
“We will install barriers to ensure that only light vehicles will pass the bridge. We don’t need a weighing scale since we are aware of the net weight and maximum load of passenger vans and other light vehicles,” DPWH Eastern Visayas Regional Director Edgar Tabacon told the Philippine News Agency.
The DPWH issued an advisory on May 12, but Tabacon admitted that this was not strictly imposed since many truckers from Luzon and Mindanao are not well informed about the limit.
“We need an immediate solution to this predicament since the progress of the region is at stake,” he said during the meeting held at the DPWH multipurpose hall here.
Joining the coordination meeting are representatives from local government units, national government agencies, contractor’s groups, police, the coast guard, and the military.
Officials recommended the use of existing roll-on/roll-off ports to transport goods between Leyte and Samar Islands. There will be a separate meeting for shipping firms, according to Tabacon.
Among these ports are Calbayog and Catbalogan in Samar Island and Tacloban, Ormoc, Baybay, Maasin, and Liloan in Leyte Island.
Citing recommendations from consultants, Tabacon said the superstructure, which has stood the test of calamity, hurdling Super Typhoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan) that ravaged Eastern Visayas on Nov. 8, 2013, needs major repair. (PNA)
