Imee Marcos criticizes Romualdez over San Juanico Bridge funding; House highlights past allocations

On Thursday, Senator Imee Marcos criticized her cousin Speaker Martin Romualdez for alleged lapses in maintaining the San Juanico Bridge.

House spokesperson Princess Abante responded by highlighting that the House of Representatives has secured funding for the bridge since 2018 and proposed to raise it to P400 million in 2026, emphasizing Marcos's responsibility as a senator.

Abante questioned why Marcos was seeking contributions from her rather than addressing issues with Romualdez, who represents the area, noting specific allocations made by the House in previous years.

Marcos had previously alleged insufficient maintenance funding for the bridge from 2018 to 2025, with only P451.4 million allocated for rehabilitation.

President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. declared Eastern Visayas under a state of calamity for one year to facilitate repairs on the San Juanico Bridge and set a deadline for its reopening by December.

The Proclamation took effect on June 5 and aims to provide flexibility in implementing repair measures, which may be lifted earlier or extended depending on circumstances.

Despite the ongoing debate, both sides agree that addressing the maintenance issues of the bridge is crucial.