Tacloban City—President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday led the switch-on of the P80-million San Juanico Bridge Aesthetic Light and Sound Show Project, which is seen to bring spark and more economic development to Eastern Visayas’ two main islands—Samar and Leyte.
“This bridge holds a special place in my heart, as it was one of the flagship projects completed during the administration of my late father. In fact, it was my father who spearheaded the inauguration of the bridge, so you can all imagine how genuinely delighted I am to be present to witness the lighting as your President,” Mr. Marcos said.
“I look forward to seeing the bridge turn into a true sight to behold, not just during the day, but now even in the dark at night. I look forward to the economic opportunities that will be stimulated by this, as well as other Spark Samar initiatives, in the near future,” he added.
The project, the first in the country, was proposed by Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan and the Department of Tourism (DOT) Region 8 to the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) in 2015.
TIEZA allocated PP80 million for the project that was completed by Amigo Entertainment Technologies, Inc. after more than three years of delay due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“After all these years—after overcoming postponements and restrictions brought by the pandemic—the result of your dedication and perseverance will now be shown in its full glory. Every day henceforth, this bridge will stand—as it has stood since the beginning—as a staunch reminder of the rewards awaiting our collaborative endeavors,” the President said.