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Jean Mangaluz - Philstar.com
May 18, 2025 | 3:23pm
Local tourists pose for souvenir photos at San Juanico Bridge in Tacloban City on Saturday, March 15, 2025.
Noel Pabalate / The Philippine STAR
MANILA, Philippines — The Office of Civil Defense announced on Sunday, May 18, that safety measures, including banning pedestrians, will take effect due to structural concerns at San Juanico Bridge.
The San Juanico Bridge in Eastern Visayas is due for rehabilitation. The government has already limited heavy vehicles from passing through the bridge.
“We ask everyone to understand and work with us. Our top priority is the safety of travelers and residents. We will lift these restrictions only when we are fully confident that the bridge’s structural integrity is secure,” OCD Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno said in a statement.
Pedestrians will cross through coasters and light vehicles that will ferry passengers across the bridge.
To further assist passengers, the government is accepting franchise applications and permits for passenger vehicles. A passenger terminal in Tacloban, Leyte and another in Sta. Rita, Samar.
Some of the other measures the government is implementing include a weighing station to determine which vehicles may pass.
Heavy vehicles will be rerouted to checkpoints in Sogod, Ormoc, Palo, Tacloban, and Sta. Fe on the Leyte side, while on the Samar side, they will be redirected to Catbalogan, Taft, Basey and Sta. Rita.
Following orders from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. regarding the safety of infrastructure, the OCD said that the government has formed the San Juanico Task Group to streamline tasks.
A Blue Alert status has been raised in the affected area. This signified that authorities must be on heightened alert and preparedness for slow-onset disasters.
Authorities have also set up a public assistance desk on both sides of the bridge to streamline information and assistance. It also serves as the command post of the task force.
A 24-hour patrol unit will also be stationed at various locations on the San Juanico Bridge for safety monitoring.
