NAVAL, Biliran, Philippines — Crossing the Biliran Bridge in northern Leyte was limited to pedestrians and light vehicles after the 48-year-old structure was shown in viral online posts to be swaying and creating wave-like movements since Monday.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Eastern Visayas closed the bridge to passenger buses, commercial trucks and other heavy vehicles “due to its relative risk.”
“This (bridge movement) is due to the prevailing extreme windy condition and the heavy volume of traffic brought about by the holiday season. Buses with passengers are advised to unload passengers prior to crossing Biliran Bridge. The traveling public is advised to cross the bridge one at a time and with caution,” a DPWH-8 advisory declared.
Videos posted in several online platforms showed the bridge, which connects the island province to Leyte, swaying and creating wave-like movements. Motorists from either side of the bridge had to stop at its approaches for safety.
Biliran Rep. Gerardo Espina Jr. said in an interview that he sent one of the videos to DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan “for information” and to request for an immediate assessment of the condition of the bridge.
Espina also asked the DPWH to “plan out the necessary intervention to protect motorists and commuters” and ensure the continuous flow of commerce.
The DPWH earlier said that a P500-million budget to build a new bridge parallel to the swinging structure was proposed in 2021. It also said that the Biliran Bridge, built in 1976, could no longer be used liberally by heavy vehicles.
In a separate interview, DPWH-8 assistant director David Adongay said there were “no signs or manifestations of waving, seesawing or bridge oscillations” when they conducted an inspection.
Adongay said that the viral video on several social media sites could have been edited to create fear. He urged people to be responsible with what they post online.
Even with the positive findings, Adongay still stressed the need to “regulate the tonnage of vehicles that pass over the bridge since it is pretty old.”