San Juanico Bridge, also known as the San Juanico Bridge, is located in Leyte province, Philippines. It is one of the longest bridges in the country and stretches for 2.16 kilometers connecting Tacloban City on Leyte Island with the municipality of Sta. Rita in Samar Island. The bridge was built during the administration of former president Ferdinand Marcos in 1973 and was inaugurated on June 12, 1973.
The bridge is composed of 20 spans which span a total length of 2.16 kilometers across the San Juanico Strait. The bridge was designed by Arvin Valderama and Christian Meynard Barnal and constructed in 1969 between Cabalawan, Tacloban City, and Santa Rita, Samar. The bridge features two distinct designs; one for its steel truss portion and the other for its concrete girder segment. San Juanico Bridge is a remarkable engineering feat that stands today as a testament to Filipino resilience and pride. Spanning 2 kilometers across Leyte Gulf, this iconic landmark had connected two provinces divided by the San Juanico Strait since 1973, when it opened for traffic after three years of construction funded by Japan’s ODA program.
It is a popular tourist spot, providing visitors with breathtaking views of the strait and its surrounding areas. Additionally, it serves as an essential transportation link between two islands, allowing people to travel from one side to another without going through a ferry or boat ride.
The bridge continues to be an essential part of Philippine culture, serving as a reminder of the beauty and strength of the country’s engineering achievements.
San Juanico Bridge Lights
The San Juanico Bridge Aesthetic Lighting Project is funded by the Tourism Infrastructure Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA). The project cost around P80 million pesos and features 30,000 LED light bulbs adorn the bridge during nighttime. The colors of these bulbs constantly change, creating a stunning light show that can be seen from far away.
Proponents of lighting up the bridge argue that it would be more aesthetically pleasing and help bring more tourism to local businesses. They also point out that there have been no reports of environmental harm caused by the lights, so it’s safe for humans and wildlife living near the bridge.
On the other hand, opponents of lighting up the bridge argue that it goes against traditional Filipino values to light up this symbol of history and culture. Furthermore, they feel that lighting up the bridge detracts from its natural beauty and harms wildlife due to light pollution. Additionally, some opponents argue that taxpayers’ money shouldn’t be used to pay for something so frivolous as colored lights on a bridge when there are more pressing issues facing Filipinos today, such as poverty or lack of access to healthcare.
The debate over the San Juanico Bridge lights will go on for years, but one thing’s for sure—it’s interesting to see firsthand!