The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Friday confirmed that construction of the second San Juanico Bridge (SSJB) is expected to begin in 2028, following key preparatory work supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which is funding the project.
DPWH said the new bridge is essential to allow full rehabilitation of the existing San Juanico Bridge, which is currently under emergency repairs due to structural deterioration.
In July, the DPWH and JICA concluded a meeting wrapping up JICA’s fact-finding mission, paving the way for the finalization of the project’s feasibility study. The Final Report from JICA is expected by September, a critical milestone for this priority infrastructure under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s administration.
DPWH senior undersecretary Emil Sadain also noted that JICA has been requested to submit a draft Terms of Reference (TOR) within this month to allow internal review ahead of the JICA pre-appraisal mission in September. Coordination with the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) will also begin to initiate Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) processing.
An environmental compliance certificate (ECC) is also targeted by September 2025, with approval from the Economic Development Council (EDC) expected in November. The project’s loan agreement is anticipated to be signed by January 2026.
The SSJB will then undergo a 15-month detailed engineering design phase, with civil works beginning in 2028 and lasting approximately 32 months. The project includes the construction of a new bridge, approach roads, and O&M facilities. Although it excludes rehabilitation of the existing bridge, a structural inspection will be conducted to prioritize urgent repairs.
The new bridge will feature advanced Japanese engineering, including paint life extension steel, composite slab technology, and seismic isolation bearings to ensure long-term durability and resilience.
Meanwhile, the Marcos administration has allocated over ₱500 million to restore the current bridge’s load capacity to 12–15 metric tons by December this year, aiming to ease the logistical bottlenecks caused by the current 3-ton bridge load limit.
