The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said Friday it expects construction on the Second San Juanico Bridge (SSJB) to begin by 2028.
The new bridge is crucial for the full rehabilitation of the existing San Juanico Bridge, which is undergoing emergency repairs due to its deteriorating condition.
On July 25, the DPWH and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) concluded a meeting for an ongoing fact-finding mission on the SSJB Project. The meeting wrapped up JICA’s fact-finding activities and set the stage for finalizing the project’s Feasibility Study.
DPWH Senior Undersecretary Sadain said the final report is expected by September 2025, a significant step for the high-priority infrastructure initiative under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s administration.
Once the JICA study ream submits the updated interim technical report and economic analysis worksheets, the DPWH will coordinate with the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev) for Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) processing.
The DPWH also asked JICA to submit draft terms of reference (TOR) by August 2025. This will allow for internal review by the Bureau of Construction (BOC), Bureau of Design (BOD), Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) and Planning and Procurement Services before the JICA pre-appraisal mission in September 2025.
An environmental compliance certificate (ECC) for the project is also expected by September 2025. Approval by the Economic Development Council (EDC) is targeted for November 2025, with loan signing anticipated by January 2026.
The SSJB Project will undergo a 15-month detailed engineering design phase, with civil works expected to begin in 2028 and last approximately 32 months.
The project includes building a new bridge and its approach roads, along with operations and maintenance (O&M) facilities. While repairs to the existing San Juanico Bridge are not part of the project’s scope, a detailed inspection and structural assessment will be conducted during the design phase, prioritizing urgent repairs based on consultant recommendations.
The bridge’s design will use advanced Japanese technologies for long-term reliability and operational efficiency. Key innovations include paint life extension steel to boost durability and cut maintenance needs, composite slab technology to shorten construction time and ease maintenance and seismic isolation bearings to improve earthquake resilience.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier said more than P500 million was allocated to restore the existing bridge’s load limit to 12 to 15 metric tons by December 2025. This aims to ease current traffic and logistical delays caused by the bridge’s current three-ton vehicle limit, which is disrupting regional trade and commerce.
