To connect Luzon and Visayas
TACLOBAN CITY — Eighteen members of Congress from Eastern Visayas, led by House Minority Leader Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan, have jointly filed a bill seeking the construction of a 28-kilometer fixed link—either an undersea tunnel or a long-span bridge—across the San Bernardino Strait to connect Sorsogon in Luzon and Northern Samar in the Visayas.
House Bill No. 4589 aims to create a “permanent and weather-resilient” land connection between the country’s two largest island groups, cutting travel time, easing transport congestion, and bolstering trade and tourism in the process.
“This is an investment in national economic integration and long-term growth,” Libanan said. “A fixed link—whether a tunnel or a bridge—will guarantee year-round mobility even during storms and open new opportunities for trade, tourism, and employment.”
The proposed 28-kilometer crossing would replace the existing ferry link between Matnog, Sorsogon, and Allen, Northern Samar, which is often disrupted by rough seas and port congestion.
“Imagine being able to drive seamlessly from Metro Manila to Samar and Leyte without having to queue for a ferry. This will completely change the way people travel, move goods, and connect across our islands,” Libanan added.
Among the bill’s co-authors are Representatives Niko Raul Daza, Edwin Marino Ongchuan, Stephen James Tan, Reynolds Michael Tan, Christopher Sheen Gonzales, Roger Mercado, Christopherson Yap, Gerardo Espina Jr., Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Lolita Javier, Anna Victoria Tuazon, Richard Gomez, Carl Nicolas Cari, Andrew Julian Romualdez, Jude Acidre, Yedda Marie Romualdez, and Jonathan Clement Abalos II of 4Ps party-list group.
Libanan emphasized that the proposed link is not only an economic game changer but also a crucial lifeline during disasters.
“The tunnel or bridge will allow quicker deployment of emergency services and delivery of relief goods during calamities,” he said, noting that Eastern Visayas is one of the country’s most typhoon-prone regions, frequently struck by up to 20 tropical cyclones each year.
Under the bill, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will oversee a comprehensive feasibility study and engineering design to be conducted by a qualified international consulting firm with proven experience in similar undersea or long-span bridge projects.
Funding for the study and design will be included in the national budget under the General Appropriations Act.
“Every year we delay this project is a year of lost opportunities. It’s time to make this vision a reality for the next generation,” Libanan said.
LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA
