MANILA—The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have concluded a key wrap-up meeting for the Second San Juanico Bridge (SSJB) Construction Project, marking the completion of JICA’s fact-finding mission.

Held on July 25, 2025, the meeting brought together DPWH Senior Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain and JICA officials including Takehiro Kido, Risa Aramaki, and Saiko Yamazaki from the JICA Headquarters; Keisuke Fukui of JICA Philippines; and members of the JICA Study Team, Takeyuki Takada and Buntaro Shiono.

The meeting signaled the conclusion of JICA’s fact-finding activities and paved the way for the finalization of the project’s Feasibility Study. According to Sadain’s report to DPWH Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan, the Final Report is expected to be submitted by September 2025.

The new bridge project is part of the government’s high-priority infrastructure program under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., and will support the full rehabilitation of the existing San Juanico Bridge, which is currently undergoing emergency repairs.

DPWH is now preparing to coordinate with the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) for Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) processing, following the submission of the updated Interim Technical Report and economic analysis worksheets by the JICA Study Team.

DPWH has also requested JICA to submit a draft Terms of Reference (TOR) by August 2025 for internal review by relevant DPWH units including the Bureau of Construction, Bureau of Design, Bids and Awards Committee, and Planning and Procurement Services. The JICA Pre-Appraisal Mission is scheduled for September 2025.

The project’s Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) is expected to be secured by September 2025, with Economic Development Council (EDC) approval targeted by November 2025. The loan signing is scheduled for January 2026.

The SSJB Project will proceed to a 15-month Detailed Engineering Design phase, with civil works expected to begin in 2028 and last approximately 32 months.

The scope of the project includes the construction of a new bridge, approach roads, and operations and maintenance facilities. While the rehabilitation of the existing San Juanico Bridge is not included in this phase, a structural assessment will be conducted during the design phase, with urgent repairs to be prioritized based on consultant recommendations.

The new bridge design will integrate advanced Japanese technologies, such as paint life extension steel for durability, composite slab technology for faster construction and easier maintenance, and seismic isolation bearings for earthquake resilience.

The meeting also included updates on other JICA-assisted infrastructure projects, including the Central Mindanao High Standard Highway (Cagayan de Oro–Malaybalay Section), the Parañaque Spillway, and the Davao City Flood Control Project.

Also present at the meeting were DPWH Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) officials Rodrigo I. Delos Reyes, Benjamin A. Bautista, and Ramon A. Arriola III, along with JICA representatives Ryutaro Uchino, Tsuyoshi Mizuno, Jaime Anton Marfori, Miha Matsubayashi, Takanori Morishima, and Shino Yamauchi.