Province daily losses at P20 million
TACLOBAN CITY – Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan expressed her gratitude to the national government for its prompt response following the imposition of a 3-ton weight limit on the San Juanico Bridge, which has severely affected the province’s economy.
Samar, which relies heavily on supplies from Leyte, is reportedly losing at least P20 million daily due to the disruption in the delivery of goods, including fuel, food, and construction materials.
In a media interview on Wednesday afternoon, May 28, Tan said that through the immediate intervention of the national government, a temporary port in Amandayehan, Basey, Samar was identified as an alternative route.
This port will now serve as a loading point for commercial trucks unable to cross the bridge due to the weight restriction. These trucks will be ferried across to a port in Tacloban City, Leyte.
“This Amandayehan port will serve as a vital link, allowing trucks that cannot cross the bridge to be transported to the Tacloban port,” the governor explained. “This setup will help mitigate further economic losses.”
Tan said the initiative was made possible through the support of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) and the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), following instructions from Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon. Originally a fish port, Amandayehan required immediate rehabilitation to accommodate vessels.
“We had to act fast by reinforcing the shores with boulders so that vessels could dock properly,” she said, noting that the rocks were taken from excavated road sections under repair in the province.
“The contractors doing road works provided the boulders. I called on them to bring the materials to Amandayehan.”
Given the urgency of the situation, the governor said there was no need for a full design or long planning phase for the temporary port.
“The San Juanico Bridge is a lifeline for Samar. This situation requires immediate action,” she emphasized.
The province has since been placed under a state of emergency due to the severe disruption caused by the bridge restrictions.
Governor Tan hopes the rehabilitation of the Amandayehan port will be completed within 10 days, as directed by Secretary Dizon during his visit on Sunday, May 25.
Once operational, the port will be capable of accommodating at least four vessels, each able to carry 20 trucks per trip, with a travel time of about 30 minutes between Samar and Leyte.
Prior to the restriction, around 1,400 trucks crossed the 2.16-kilometer San Juanico Bridge daily. Since the load limit took effect, about 400 trucks have been rerouted through the longer Calbayog, Samar–Ormoc, Leyte route.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
