San Juanico light show seen to boost Eastern Visayas economy, tourism

PICTURE PERFECT Residents watch and take photos of San Juanico Bridge from a distance during the switch-on ceremony for a light and sound show on the 2.16-kilometer structure linking Samar and Leyte provinces on Wednesday. The landmark is expected to draw tourists in this part of Eastern Visayas region. —PHOTO COURTESY OF DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM – EASTERN VISAYAS

TACLOBAN CITY—One of the country’s oldest and most iconic bridges was aglow on Wednesday night as President Marcos witnessed a 21-minute light and sound show to highlight this vital infrastructure linking the islands of Leyte and Samar.

In his speech, the President said he was “genuinely delighted” to lead the switch-on ceremony of the aesthetic lighting and sound project at the 2.16-kilometer bridge which his father, the late former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., inaugurated on July 2, 1973, on the birthday of his wife, then first lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos, a native of Leyte.

“With the recent completion of the San Juanico Aesthetic Lighting Project, 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,” Mr. Marcos said, citing the branding campaign of the local government.

The bridge will be lit from Monday to Thursday while the laser light show is set for weekends, from Friday to Sunday.

The President hoped that the bridge would not only become a must-see among local and foreign tourists, but would also pave the way for economic development, not just in Leyte, but also in Samar where poverty remained high.

“It is my earnest desire that this lighting project will encourage the people of Samar and Leyte, and the rest of the country, to pursue programs that will pave the way for long lasting impacts in the lives of the Filipinos,” he said.

Delayed

The lighting project at the San Juanico Bridge was first started in 2019 and funded by the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (Tieza) at a cost of P80 million.

However, its completion, undertaken by the Manila-based Amigo Entertainment Technologies Inc., was delayed due different factors, like poor weather and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The computer-controlled aesthetic light and sound show produces various colors and themes. During the recent death of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, the entire stretch of the bridge was aglow in purple, a color associated with royalty.

Samar initiative

The San Juanico Bridge was built as part of the Pan-Philippine Highway, now called the Maharlika Highway, a network of roads, bridges and sea routes that connects the islands of Luzon, Samar, Leyte and Mindanao.

The light and sound project at San Juanico was the brainchild of Samar Gov. Sharee Ann Tan.

“Our purpose here is to attract our national leaders to visit us—Samar and Leyte—as far as tourism is concerned … so that we can encourage more tourists to come, which will pave the way for additional livelihood particularly in the province of Samar where we are more focused on and prioritizing … community-based tourism,” she said.

The governor’s younger brother, Samar Rep. Reynolds Michael Tan, said expenses for the maintenance and security of the bridge would be shouldered by the provincial government, which has set aside P6 million for electricity bills and other expenses related to the bridge’s maintenance.

“Our plan is to have a mixed-use area. We have government buildings, proposed commercial establishments and even residential areas to help stimulate the economy on this part of Samar,” he said.

Mark Lapid, chief operating officer of Tieza, said the project symbolized “hope and resiliency” among the people of Samar and Leyte and the entire Eastern Visayas who are often affected by natural disasters.

“It (bridge’s aesthetic lights) is a symbol of strength, hope and resiliency that despite several tragedies and disasters, the bridge is still there,” Lapid said.

Built in August 1969 and completed in 1972, the bridge stood many challenges, including Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan) which ravaged Eastern Visayas on Nov. 8, 2013, and left more than 7,300 people dead or missing.

Beth Singson, a resident of Sta. Rita, Samar, was expecting that the bridge’s new look would encourage tourists to visit.

“We are optimistic that this project will open opportunities for us here. Perhaps I might expand my small business in selling food or local delicacies,” the 42-year-old Singson said.

—WITH A REPORT FROM JEROME ANING

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