IT IS a testament to a clan’s rapacious character and propensity to profit from their decades-long hold on political power in Eastern Visayas and lately, in the whole country—this ongoing controversy among members of the Romualdez family involving the San Juanico Bridge.
The bridge which connects the islands of Samar and Leyte was built in the early part of 1980, and during its time was the Philippines’ longest bridge at 2.6 kilometers. It straddles the San Juanico Strait and has been a beacon and driver of economic activities in the region.
As an important cog that connects the northern and southern sections of the Maharlika Highway, and thus all the islands of the country, the San Juanico Bridge may be considered as President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s main legacy to the Eastern Visayas region, and to the country.
The fact that San Juanico is in Leyte gives credence to the romanticized narrative that it was Ferdinand Marcos’ gift to his wife, First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos, who hails from Tolosa.
Imee is disappointed
This may be the reason why Sen. Imee Marcos cares so much about this bridge, and could not hide her disappointment when it was closed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to vehicles carrying heavy loads. The 3-ton load restriction was imposed starting from May 15.
The DPWH earlier claimed that the total cost to retrofit the bridge would be P1 billion.
But now, Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez was aghast as he received reports that the amount needed to rehabilitate San Juanico Bridge has ballooned to P7 billion. The original figure of P1 billion was taken from the revised plan mapped by Angel Lazaro & Associates International, the consultant hired by the DPWH to assess the total cost of repairs.
Mayor Romualdez is correct in insisting that “the public deserves to know the extent of the damage (due to wear and tear) and whether the escalating repair costs are justified.”
For her part, Senator Imee called out her cousin, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, for not allocating enough funds for the upkeep of the bridge.
The National Budget is crafted in the House of Representatives and Speaker Martin should have a strong voice in the matter of San Juanico Bridge allocations.
Imee said she had inquired on the matter, but it seems the Speaker and the DPWH were silent. “Deadma” was the term she used.
“Matapos ang ilang pag-uusisa sa kondisyon ng San Juanico Bridge, deadma ang DPWH at si Speaker.
“P451.4 milyon lamang alokasyon para sa rehabilitasyon ng tulay mula taong 2018 hanggang 2025. Ako pa mismo ang nagtanong kung saan linaan ang bilyon pondong nakalagay sa GAA— P4.7 bilyon para sa iba’t ibang proyekto sa Maharlika Highway.
“Bilyon ang linustay na pera para sa mga daanan na masayang pinagkakitaan ng kung sinu-sino pero ang mahalagang tulay ni hindi iniinspeksiyon at puro pintura lang ang ginawa!”
Bigger political battle
The rift between Imee Marcos and Martin Romualdez over the San Juanico Bridge may be considered as just an offshoot of the ongoing bigger political battle between the Duterte and Marcos camps over the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte, the best friend of Senator Imee.
Going further, the impeachment bid is just a preliminary battle leading to the big presidential election fight in 2028, where the VP is considered as a very strong candidate.
Incidentally, President Bongbong Marcos has given DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan until December, 2025 to finish the job of rehabilitating the bridge. If not done, Bonoan would be considered resigned, said the President.
To help expedite the recovery efforts, Bongbong Marcos has issued Proclamation No. 920, placing the whole of Eastern Visayas region under a state of calamity effective last June 5.
This presidential proclamation allows national and local government units in the region to accelerate funding, procurement, and repair works on the bridge.
This opens more opportunities to line the pockets of officials and business persons who are directly involved in the rehab process, some of them with the DPWH. Thus the concern aired by Mayor Alfredo Romualdez is very much understandable.
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