The failure of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to adequately maintain the San Juanico Bridge is, in itself, an act of economic sabotage.
This is the contention of a Leyteño consumer advocate who has recently filed a case at the Office of the Ombdusman against DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan for gross negligence due to the sudden and abrupt closure of the San Juanico Bridge a few months ago.
In a filing before the Office of the Ombudsman’s Eastern Visayas Regional Office last August 28, Raymundo Junia, in his capacity as founder of the Road Users’ Protection Advocates (RUPA), charged that Bonoan and the DPWH Eastern Visayas Regional Director Engr. Edgar Tabacon derailed the region’s chances for economic recovery with the immediate closure of the main bridge that connects the islands of Samar and Leyte.
Junia, who is also the convenor of the Institute for Consumer Research and Empowerment (ICORE), petitioned for the preventive suspension of Bonoan and Tabacon.
He also urged the Ombudsman to file criminal and administrative charges against the two officials for violation of Republic Act No. 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act); Republic Act No. 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees); grave misconduct, and “conduct prejudicial to the best interests of the service.”
Sudden closure
To recall, the DPWH Eastern Visayas Regional Office suddenly restricted the San Juanico Bridge to a three-ton axle load starting last May 15, citing serious deterioration in the 52-year-old bridge’s structure.
This effectively limited the bridge to light vehicles, forcing trucks and buses to temporarily use roll-on/roll-off (RORO) ferries to reach their destinations in the islands of Samar and Leyte.
Passenger buses plying Eastern Visayas routes were also forced to unload their passengers at Santa Rita, Samar, where they could catch UV Express and traditional and modern jeepneys to Tacloban City.
This not only added to the travel time consumed by buses and trucks but also caused delays in the delivery of basic goods and services to the region.
Economic impact
“The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) estimated monthly economic losses of P300 million to P600 million, based on 14,000 vehicles crossing daily and disruptions to vital sectors like food, medicine and fuel,” Junia said in the filing.
Citing news reports, the ICORE convenor also contended that the sudden closure of the San Juanico Bridge restricted heavy cargo vehicles “without viable alternatives” (until local government authorities began providing free ferry services between Samar and Leyte), trapping goods delivery and stranding thousands of vehicles.
“Local businesses and tourism groups also estimated daily losses of P10 to 20 million, leading to the same monthly range,” he added.
The projected economic impact of the DPWH's decision to limit the bridge has prompted local authorities to declare a state of emergency in Tacloban City and Samar province, while the NDRRMC has recommended the declaration of a region-wide state of calamity.
Long-range failures
Junia traced this massive loss in the local economy to the failure of Bonoan and other DPWH officials to fulfill their mandate of ensuring that major infrastructure works such as the San Juanico Bridge are adequately maintained.
“Despite structural defects being known, no prior alternative routes, or interim support…were in place at the time of the closure despite having the personnel and a multi-billion peso for planning and maintenance,” he said.
Not only that, the DPWH was slow to respond to warning signs as early as 2022 that the bridge is on the verge of structural distress, such as vibrations and corrosions in its steel structure.
The bridge also only received “superficial” paint work (not to mention a P80-million lighting project in 2022, ostensibly to boost tourism in the region) despite a P4.7-billion in infrastructure funding through the Maharlika Highway budget.
“This indicates a ‘reactive’ rather than ‘proactive’ [emphasis added] maintenance and emergency planning approach to a very important infrastructure, which amounts to gross negligence.”
Aside from gross negligence and economic sabotage, the ICORE convenor added that the DPWH’s inaction and late reaction to the deteriorating state of the bridge also constitutes a violation of the agency’s constitutional duty.
“[Their actions constitute a] breach of the DPWH’s obligation to protect public infrastructure and minimize disruption to citizens’ livelihood and welfare,” he charged.
EDITOR'S NOTE: On Sunday, August 31, it was announced that Malacañang has accepted Manuel Bonoan's resignation as DPWH Secretary and that Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon will take his place. President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. had also announced the formation of an independent commission to investigate all flood control projects during the past three years of his administration.
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