DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan. (Photo from Autoindustriya.com)
Following President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. (PBBM)’s expressed order to fasttrack all ongoing infrastructure projects, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan has directed contractors to expedite its construction works, particularly the repairs on San Juanico Bridge and increase its load limit to 12 or even 15 tons by December this year.
According to Bonoan, repairs on the country’s second longest bridge are ongoing but DPWH is expediting the work to meet President Marcos Jr.’s year-end deadline.
The move came after the chief executive stressed he wanted to restore the bridge’s capacity after a three-ton load limit had been imposed since May 15, following assessment by government engineers found that there are significant structural compromises to the bridge.
“That’s a test, if you don’t finish that, I’ll accept your resignation,” the president had warned.
On record from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), more than ₱500 million has already been allocated for the San Juanico Bridge’s repair.