The San Juanico Bridge, part of the Pan-Philippine Highway, stretches from Samar to Leyte across the San Juanico Strait in the Philippines. Its longest length is a steel girder viaduct built on reinforced concrete piers, and its main span is of an arch-shaped truss design. With a total length of 2.16 kilometers (1.34 mi), it is the longest bridge in the Philippines spanning a body of seawater. It is considered one of the most beautifully designed bridges in the Philippines. The bridge has 43 spans and medium size boats can pass beneath its large main arch the top of which rises 41 meters above the sea. Construction commenced in 1969 over the San Juanico Strait from Cabalawan, Tacloban City, to the municipality of Santa Rita, Samar, with completion in 1973.
The Candaba Viaduct of Pampanga which forms part of the North Luzon Expressway is longer, but being a land bridge crossing a few streams, ponds, and a swamp which usually fills in rainy weather, it is less impressive.
Connecting Tacloban City on the Leyte side and Santa Rita town on the Samar side, it offers many picturesque views, especially of the San Juanico Strait with its thousand whirlpools as well as the islets of the province. It is approximately 10 minutes from downtown Tacloban City and is accessible by passenger jeepney, bus, motorcab, or private vehicle.
Construction of the 21.9 million-dollar bridge was contracted to the Construction and Development Corporation of the Philippines (now the Philippine National Construction Corporation), which together with Japanese engineers conducted studies and designed the actual project.
Accommodation
- Ormoc Villa Hotel
Location: Ormoc, Leyte, Philippines
- Don Felipe Hotel
Location: Ormoc, Leyte, Philippines
- Leyte Park Hotel Resort
Location: Tacloban, Leyte, Philippines
- Tacloban Plaza Hotel
Location: Tacloban, Leyte, Philippines
- Leyte Park Hotel Resort
Location: Tacloban, Leyte, Philippines
- Palermo Hotel
Location: Baybay, Leyte, Philippines
How to get there
By land
Tourists can reach Leyte Province via by air travel via Tacloban City, the capital city of Leyte. Local airlines from Manila have daily trips to Tacloban City. From there, buses and vans are available as a mode of transportation touring the province.
By sea
Tourists can also reach Leyte by riding a ferry boat from Cebu going to Ormoc City. From there, air-conditioned vans have trips touring touring the province.