Latest news with #DPWH
GMA Network
2 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Marcos wants 12 tons load capacity in San Juanico by December 2025
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. said Friday that he wants to increase the load limits of San Juanico Bridge to 12 tons by December this year. 'Ang schedule namin dapat by December, before the end of the year, ang pwede ng gamitin na sasakyan hanggang 12 tons,' Marcos said during an episode of BBM Podcast. (Our schedule is that by December, before the end of the year, vehicles up to 12 tons can be allowed.) 'That's a test, sabi ko pag hindi niyo natapos 'yan, tatanggapin ko 'yung resignation ninyo,' Marcos warned. (That's a test, if you don't finish that, I'll accept your resignation.) The President apologized to the residents in Samar and Leyte who were affected by the rehabilitation, saying that the government wants to ensure their safety. 'Well sorry na nangyari ito, alam ko 'yung nararanasan ninyo, nararanasan ng ating mga transport operators, nararanasan ng ating mga negosyante,' Marcos said. (I'm sorry that this happened, I know your experience, the experiences of our transport operators and businessmen.) 'Kaya asahan ninyo minamadali namin na maayos kaagad ito,' he added. (I assure you that we are doing everything to immediately address this.) In May, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan said that the present load limits of San Juanico Bridge amid its rehabilitation might be increased in the next months. He said the increase in the load limits could be implemented in the last quarter of this year. Bonoan added that the full capacity of the existing San Juanico Bridge would be undertaken ''as soon as the new bridge is actually constructed.'' According to the DPWH, the recent assessment raised concerns about San Juanico Bridge's structural integrity. It temporarily prohibited vehicles weighing more than three tons from crossing the 2.16-kilometer bridge. Built in 1969 and completed in 1973, San Juanico Bridge is the third longest bridge spanning a body of seawater in the Philippines, connecting the islands of Samar and Leyte. It was a project of the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
2 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Imee trades barbs with House official amid San Juanico bridge condition
Senator Imee Marcos on Thursday criticized her cousin, Speaker Martin Romualdez, for the supposed lapses in maintaining the San Juanico Bridge, which connects the islands of Samar and Leyte. This, as House spokesperson Princess Abante on Wednesday questioned what the senator has done for the 52-year old bridge—a prominent project of her late father, former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr. According to Abante, part of the advocacy of Romualdez, who represents Leyte's 1st district, is to ensure that there are enough funds to support the programs and projects in his constituency. 'Makikita natin na tuloy tuloy naman ang naging budget allocation para sa San Juanico Bridge for its maintenance rehabilitation,' the House spokesperson said. (We could see that the budget allocation for the San Juanico Bridge for its maintenance rehabilitation continued.) 'Siguro si Senator Imee, since she is very much concerned, kailangan din natin tanungin ano naging ambag niya bilang senador na kasama naman sa tungkulin niya ang pag-ayos ng budget ng bansa dun sa pangangalaga ng San Juanico Bridge,' she added. (Since Senator Imee is very much concerned, we also need to ask what she has contributed as a senator whose role includes allocating a budget to preserve the San Juanico Bridge.) Marcos, in return, asked Abante why she is looking for her contributions as a senator, and not directly ask Romualdez who hails from Leyte province. 'Ang San Juanico Bridge ay binuo sa administrasyon ng aking ama na simbolismo ng katatagan at pagtutulay ng kalinga ng pamahalaan papunta sa mga mamamayan. Ngayon, pinagdududahan ang tibay at serbisyo nito, pero ang hinahanapan ng [solusyon] ay ako pa rin,' the presidential sister said. (The San Juanico Bridge was built during my father's administration as a symbol of stability and bridging the aid of the government to the people. Now, its stability is being questioned, but I'm still the one being asked for the solution.) 'Bakit ako na senador ang hinahanapan mo ng aksyon, yang amo mo diyan nakatira, bakit hindi mo tanungin? Lahat kayo sa akin nakatingin—sana ako na lang nag Presidente,' she added. (Why are you asking for solutions from me, when it is your boss who lives there? All of you are looking at me—perhaps I should have been the one who who ran for President.) President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. has issued Proclamation No. 920, placing Eastern Visayas under a state of calamity for a year, to give way for the repairs on the bridge. The President said the state of calamity took effect on June 5 and may be lifted earlier or get extended depending on the circumstances. According to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the recent assessment raised concerns about San Juanico Bridge's structural integrity. It temporarily prohibited vehicles weighing more than three tons from crossing the 2.16-kilometer bridge. Despite the inspections of the bridge, the senator alleged that Romualdez and the DPWH did not do anything to maintain it. 'P451.4 milyon lamang ang alokasyon para sa rehabilitasyon ng tulay mula taong 2018 hanggang 2025. Ako pa mismo ang nagtanong kung saan linaan ang bilyong pondong nakalagay sa GAA - P4.7 bilyon para sa iba't ibang proyekto sa Maharlika Highway,' Imee Marcos said. (Only P451.4 million was allocated for the rehabilitation of the bridge from 2018 to 2025. I even asked where the billions of funds included under the GAA—P4.7 billion for various projects for the Maharlika Highway— will be allocated.) 'Bilyon ang linustay na pera para sa mga daanan na masayang pinagkakitaan ng kung sinu-sino pero ang mahalagang tulay ni hindi iniinspeksyon at puro pintura lang ang ginawa,' she continued. (Billions of money supposedly for the roads were wasted and used by others, but they won't even put focus on an important bridge.) GMA News Online sought a comment from the House leadership and the DPWH and will update this story once they respond. —RF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
4 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Marcos tasks DPWH to work on reconstruction of QC school building hit by fire
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. tasked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to work on the reconstruction of San Francisco High School in Quezon City that was damaged by fire. Marcos on Wednesday inspected the Dao Building, which was struck by fire last Sunday. Education Secretary Sonny Angara said that the DPWH has recommended the demolition of the damaged area and building a new structure. 'Ang recommendation po ng Department of Public Works is gibain na po 'yung istruktura at gumawa na po ng panibagong four-story, 36-classroom, na nagkakahalaga ng P180 billion,' Angara said in a separate interview. (The recommendation of the Department of Public Works is to demolish the structure and build a new four-story, 36-classroom building, which costs P180 billion.) Angara said the building would be finished in one year. The fire broke out in the school a day before the opening of classes for School Year 2025-2026. Fire authorities raised the first alarm at 10:52 a.m. The Bureau of Fire Protection eventually raised the third alarm. Firemen were able to put the fire under control before 12 noon. The said school is near a shopping mall, which was not affected by the blaze. According to Marissa Rodriguez, the school principal, investigation is still ongoing as regards the cause of the fire. The initial cost of damage was P3 million, according to Rodriguez. At least 600 students were affected by the fire, the principal said. She, however, ensured that the classes were not disrupted as they implemented double shifts for senior high school students. 'Actually hindi naman siya masyadong naapektuhan pero ang ginawa po namin kasi nakaplot po kasi ang senior high school na single shift kasi mayroon kaming enough classrooms for the senior high school,' Rodriguez said. (The classes weren't affected much, Since the senior high school had single shifts we have enough classrooms for the senior high school,) 'Ngayong nasunog po siya, we opted to revert to double shift para maaccommodate po 'yung mga bata na nawalan po ng classrooms,' she added. (After it burned down, we opted to revert to double shifts to accommodate the children who lost their classrooms.) —VAL, GMA Integrated News
Filipino Times
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Filipino Times
Marcos orders regular 3-year inspections of San Juanico Bridge amid safety concerns
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. emphasized the need for routine inspections of the San Juanico Bridge every three years to ensure public safety, following reports of its deteriorating condition during its ongoing rehabilitation. Speaking to reporters during an inspection of the Amandayehan Port—currently serving as an alternate route for vehicles banned from the bridge—Marcos said the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) had flagged the bridge's structural integrity as severely compromised. 'We didn't expect the bridge to be in such poor condition,' Marcos said. 'Apparently, proper maintenance wasn't done. Inspections should be happening every three years, but based on what the locals told me, that hasn't been the case.' The DPWH has temporarily barred vehicles over three tons from crossing the 2.16-kilometer bridge, which connects the islands of Samar and Leyte. Built in 1969 and completed in 1973, San Juanico Bridge was a flagship project of President Marcos' late father, Ferdinand Marcos Sr. To minimize the disruption to transport and commerce, Marcos said the government is implementing a system to prioritize the movement of perishable goods, after hearing complaints from truck drivers facing multi-day delays. 'We spoke to drivers carrying vegetables who've been stuck for three or four days. Without refrigerated trucks, their goods go to waste. We will now give priority to transporting perishable goods,' he said. Marcos also acknowledged that the rehabilitation would lead to higher transportation costs but assured the public that assistance will be provided to those affected, although not all cost increases can be covered. To facilitate the rehabilitation, Marcos issued Proclamation No. 920, declaring Eastern Visayas under a state of calamity for one year. When asked when the declaration will be lifted, he replied, 'When traffic returns to normal.'
GMA Network
10-06-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Marcos declares state of calamity in Eastern Visayas over San Juanico bridge fix
The 2.16-kilometer San Juanico Bridge, one of the longest in the Philippines, links Samar and Leyte provinces in the Visayas. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has issued Proclamation No. 920, placing Eastern Visayas under a state of calamity for a year, to give way for the repairs on San Juanico Bridge. Marcos said the state of calamity took effect on June 5 and may be lifted earlier or extended depending on the circumstances. The 2.16-kilometer San Juanico Bridge, one of the longest in the Philippines, links Samar and Leyte provinces in the Visayas. 'The declaration of a State of Calamity will, among others, hasten the repair and rehabilitation of the San Juanico Bridge, and afford the National Government, as well as local government units (LGUs), ample latitude to utilize appropriate funds for the repair and safety upgrading of the subject public infrastructure,' the proclamation read. Marcos ordered the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in coordination with concerned LGUs to 'expedite all measures necessary to repair and rehabilitate the San Juanico Bridge fully.' The President also directed the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to assist the DPWH in identifying funding sources for the rehabilitation of the bridge. Further, law enforcement were tasked to 'undertake urgent response to ensure the safety of the people affected by the critical condition of the San Juanico Bridge, as well as all necessary measures to ensure peace and order in the affected areas, subject to existing laws, rules and regulations.' 'There is an urgent need to repair and rehabilitate the San Juanico Bridge to ensure timely delivery of essential goods and services and restore regional mobility,' said Marcos in a statement. The bridge was a project of the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. — BAP, GMA Integrated News
