Manila, May 30 -- Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan has ordered the fast-tracking of the San Juanico Bridge rehabilitation to increase its load limit from 3 tons at present to 5 to 10 tons in five months.

In a meeting with DPWH regional officials and consultants on Friday, Bonoan said with the available design and funds, the contractor should start the repair this June.

"The directive is to retrofit the bridge superstructure as early as possible to increase the load limit. If we can take retrofitting, we can increase the load limit while waiting for the completion of the second San Juanico Bridge," he told reporters after the meeting.

"We will expedite the rehabilitation works since there is an avai...