San Juanico Bridge rehab smells of corruption – mayor

TACLOBAN, Philippines — Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez is asking for a detailed clarification about the condition of the San Juanico Bridge as he hinted that there could be corruption in the rehabilitation of the structure.

The rehabilitation of the 52-year-old bridge, which links the islands of Samar and Leyte, was first estimated to cost P800 million, but the amount reportedly increased to P7 billion recently.

“There is something going on na hindi kanais-nais na corruption,” said Romualdez, cousin of President Marcos and former speaker Martin Romualdez. “From P800 million to P7 billion? Magkano ba talaga?”

The mayor said there should be a public disclosure about the real state of the bridge. He questioned the imposition of the three-ton weight limit on the bridge, which he said was implemented without sufficient notice or explanation. 

Romualdez said he wanted to know who conducted the feasibility study that recommended the weight limit and why the public was not informed about the matter.

“That’s why I am calling for clarification of these issues. Is the bridge really defective? How long would the rehabilitation take? Who conducted the study? Why was everything seemingly so sudden and we were given 48 hours only to close the bridge?” Romualdez asked.

He criticized the Department of Public Works and Highways for not providing a clear information about the condition of the bridge and the basis for the weight limitation.

Romualdez said the reported defects on the bridge were not new since 20 years ago, the structure also underwent repair and the public was given sufficient time to prepare.

He said experts should be tapped to look into the bridge to determine the real cost of the rehabilitation and how it would be done.