ORMOC CITY – Authorities recovered an estimated 556 grams of suspected shabu valued at P3.77 million during a buy-bust operation conducted by the Station Drug Enforcement Team (SDET) of Police Station 2, Tacloban City Police Office, in the early hours of Saturday, May 17, 2025, in Barangay 91, Abucay, Tacloban City.
The suspect, identified only by the alias “Amir”, 28, single, and a delivery rider residing in Barangay 59-A Sampaguita, was arrested after selling illegal drugs to an undercover operative for P30,000.
During the body search, conducted in the presence of law-mandated witnesses, operatives recovered three medium-sized sachets of suspected shabu sold during the operation; five knot-tied plastic bags and eight medium-sized sachets containing suspected shabu; and P30,000 in marked and boodle money, including two genuine P500 bills—one bearing the serial number CE1825150, which was pre-marked for the operation.
Police said the suspect was informed of the nature of his arrest and was apprised of his constitutional rights in a language he understood.
Authorities filed charges of selling and possession of dangerous drugs under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (Republic Act 9165).
The suspect is currently detained at the custodial facility of Police Station 2 in Barangay Abucay, Tacloban City.
ORMOC CITY – A 38-year-old carpenter was arrested in a buy-bust operation conducted by the Station Drug Enforcement Team (SDET) of Police Station 6 of the Ormoc City Police Office (OCPO) on Friday afternoon, May 9, in Brgy. Boroc.
Police identified the suspect as alias “Naldo,” a resident of Brgy. Bantigue, married, and classified as a street-level individual on the station’s drug watchlist.
According to Police Captain Jefferson Barrios, chief of Police Station 6, the operation resulted in the recovery of three sachets containing white crystalline substances suspected to be shabu.
One sachet weighing 0.16 grams was purchased by an undercover operative for P500, while two additional sachets weighing 1.79 grams were recovered during a body search witnessed by barangay officials and members of the media.
In a brief interview, the suspect admitted to both using and selling illegal drugs, citing low income from his carpentry work as the reason he became involved in the trade. He also acknowledged ownership of the confiscated items.
The suspect was informed of the nature of his arrest and apprised of his constitutional rights in a language he understood.
Charges for violations of Sections 5 (sale of illegal drugs) and 11 (possession of illegal drugs) under Article II of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 have been filed before the Ormoc City Prosecutor’s Office.
The suspect is currently detained at the Police Station 6 detention facility in Brgy. Ipil. (ROBERT DEJON)
TACLOBAN CITY – The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) has placed the entire Eastern Visayas region under “blue alert” following the implementation of vehicle restrictions at the San Juanico Bridge, a key link between the islands of Leyte and Samar.
The decision was made during an emergency meeting held on Friday, May 16, as the RDRRMC intensified its coordinated response to the situation.
“Technically, the alert level was raised for the entire region, but it specifically supports the situation at the San Juanico Bridge. This enables us to mobilize additional resources and ensure our response is appropriate for the severity of the issue,” said Office of Civil Defense (OCD-8) Regional Director and RDRRMC chairperson Lord Byron Torrecarion.
Torrecarion explained that placing the region under blue alert allows the use of the quick response fund (QRF) to cover fuel costs, deploy teams, and provide assistance to affected individuals.
“This also provides legal grounding for releasing aid, protecting us from potential disallowances by the Commission on Audit (COA). The alert status becomes our basis,” he added.
Torrecarion said they could not yet determine how long the blue alert status would remain in place.
The situation stems from a Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) memorandum issued on May 8, 2025, implementing a temporary axle load limit of three tons for all vehicles crossing the San Juanico Bridge. The restriction aims to prevent further structural deterioration and protect commuters and local communities.
In response, the RDRRMC issued Memorandum No. 05-005, series of 2025, directing all stakeholders to strictly enforce the limitations and coordinate closely with local government units (LGUs) to maintain order and public support.
A follow-up directive—Memorandum No. 05-006, series of 2025—was sent to all Provincial, City, and Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (LDRRMCs) in Southern Leyte, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Ormoc City, and Tacloban City. It outlined additional safety measures, including the requirement for all vehicles not exceeding three metric tons to cross only along the centerline of the bridge, and one at a time, under close supervision of on-site traffic management personnel.
Heavy vehicles, such as cargo trucks and buses, are temporarily banned from using the bridge until further notice to minimize structural stress and allow for urgent repair and maintenance works.
STATE OF EMERGENCY. The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, chaired by Samar Gov. Sharee Ann Tan, has recommended on Saturday, May 17 to place Samar under state of emergency following the restriction imposed at the San Juanico Bridge as the province is seen to be affected with the situation. (SAMAR PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE)
STATE OF EMERGENCY. The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, chaired by Samar Gov. Sharee Ann Tan, has recommended on Saturday, May 17 to place Samar under state of emergency following the restriction imposed at the San Juanico Bridge as the province is seen to be affected with the situation. (SAMAR PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE)
TACLOBAN CITY – The province of Samar is to be placed under a state of emergency following the imposition of strict load limitations on the iconic San Juanico Bridge, a key infrastructure linking the islands of Samar and Leyte.
The recommendation to declare the emergency was approved by the Samar Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) in a meeting presided over by Governor Sharee Ann Tan on May 17. The Sangguniang Panlalawigan is expected to act swiftly on the recommendation to formalize the declaration.
This decision comes after the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) imposed a 3-ton weight limit on vehicles crossing the San Juanico Bridge due to safety concerns.
“We are taking every step possible to protect the safety of our people while ensuring the continued flow of goods and services across the region,” Governor Tan said, citing the reason for the declaration.
Structural assessments indicated deterioration in certain bridge components, prompting authorities to restrict access to light vehicles only. The restriction effectively halts the passage of cargo trucks, buses, and other heavy vehicles, disrupting the flow of essential goods and public transportation.
The bridge, inaugurated in 1973, is a 2.16-kilometer steel structure and is one of the longest bridges in the Philippines spanning a body of seawater. It is a critical economic lifeline in Eastern Visayas, facilitating trade, supply chain operations, and commuter travel between Tacloban City in Leyte and Santa Rita in Samar.
In response to the transportation bottleneck, the PDRRMC also passed a resolution requesting the deployment of a Philippine Navy vessel to ferry essential supplies—including food, fuel, and medical goods—from Tacloban to Samar, particularly Catbalogan and other interior municipalities now facing supply chain disruptions.
To further ease the burden on land transport, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has identified several alternative seaports for cargo diversion.
These include Tacloban, Palompon, Calubian, Hilongos, Biliran, and Maasin ports on the Leyte side, and Calbayog, Catbalogan, and Maguino-o ports on the Samar side. Cargo vessel operators such as ALD Sea Transport and SEEN SAM Shipping have begun operating temporary sea routes to bridge the logistical gap caused by the restrictions.
Local governments are also collaborating with the private sector to establish temporary truck stops and staging areas in Ormoc and other key points in the region to manage the overflow of stranded cargo vehicles.
Officials urge the public and businesses to remain calm and cooperate with the contingency measures while the DPWH conducts further inspection and plans for either temporary reinforcement or long-term structural rehabilitation of the San Juanico Bridge.
TINGOG Party-list, in partnership with the Office of House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, convened a multi-agency consultative meeting on May 17, 2025, in Tacloban City to coordinate the government’s immediate response to the partial closure of the San Juanico Bridge. The meeting gathered over 30 national and regional agencies—including DPWH, MARINA, PPA, LTFRB, DSWD, and OCD—to map out alternative transport routes, maritime interventions, and support services for affected commuters and businesses in Eastern Visayas.
TINGOG Party-list, in partnership with the Office of House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, convened a multi-agency consultative meeting on May 17, 2025, in Tacloban City to coordinate the government’s immediate response to the partial closure of the San Juanico Bridge. The meeting gathered over 30 national and regional agencies—including DPWH, MARINA, PPA, LTFRB, DSWD, and OCD—to map out alternative transport routes, maritime interventions, and support services for affected commuters and businesses in Eastern Visayas.
TACLOBAN CITY– Tingog party-list, in close coordination with the Office of House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, has mobilized an urgent, whole-of-government response to the partial closure of the San Juanico Bridge — a vital connection between Leyte and Samar and a critical economic artery for Eastern Visayas.
On Saturday, May 17,Tingog and the Office of the Speaker convened a multi-agency consultative meeting with over 30 national government agencies, including Department of Public Works and Highways(DPWH), Maritime Industry Authority(MARINA), Philippine Ports Authority(PPA), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board(LTFRB), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Economy, Planning and Development(DEPDev), Office of Civil Defense(OCD) , and others, to coordinate immediate relief and mitigation efforts.
Key interventions underway include collaboration with DPWH and MARINA to prepare alternative transport routes and ports, including the activation of Amandayehan Port in Basey, Samar, for ro-ro operations; deployment of the first ro-ro vessel in the San Juanico Strait, the LCT Aldain Dowey, by Sta. Clara Shipping Corporation, to ease bottlenecks caused by the 3-ton weight limit on the bridge; approval of permits for additional Sta. Clara vessels, with ongoing coordination to finalize docking and expand maritime alternatives; launch of a 24-hour free ride service for commuters, in partnership with DPWH.
Also, the establishment of temporary passenger terminals and assistance centers on both sides of the bridge, providing shelter, basic services, and emergency support, coordinated with DSWD, OCD, AFP, PNP, DICT, and local CSWDOs.
Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre expressed strong support for DPWH’s proposed P1.7 billion rehabilitation fund for the bridge, emphasizing the need to future-proof this critical infrastructure.
Tingog also backed recommendations to accelerate government response, including declaration of a state of emergency to fast-track action and funding; creation of a Cabinet-level Emergency Response Task Force and a Regional Task Force for synchronized mitigation and recovery; establishment of a one-stop-shop permit center to streamline transport and logistics clearances; expansion of ro-ro operations with regulated fares and port management, plus special permits for vessel operators; and financial aid for affected MSMEs, price regulation for basic commodities, and a region-wide economic impact assessment by DEPDev and PSA.
“We remain hopeful that full transport and logistics connectivity will be restored as soon as possible,” Acidre said.
“Tingog Party-list stands with the people of Eastern Visayas — working with government, private sector, and civil society — to deliver caring governance, responsive leadership, and concrete service to the region.”
The structural defects now affecting the San Juanico Bridge are causing serious disruption to mobility and public safety. That such a critical inter-island link has been reduced to a narrow passage for pedestrians while barring large vehicles from crossing is bothersome.
The San Juanico Bridge is not only a symbol of interconnection between Leyte and Samar but also a vital artery for commerce, emergency response, and daily transportation. The inability of trucks, buses, and heavy vehicles to pass through has stalled delivery of goods, delayed transport services, and endangered lives. Local businesses dependent on the regular flow of supplies are now forced to deal with logistical nightmares. Ambulances and fire trucks cannot cross with the speed and ease necessary during critical emergencies. What was once a smooth and strategic route has now become a bottleneck of human frustration and economic paralysis.
The discomfort does not end with transport inconvenience. Pedestrians are made to walk across the entire bridge span under the sun or rain, vulnerable to fatigue and accidents, while vehicles line up at both ends with no certainty of crossing. The psychological toll on workers, students, and families—especially those who must cross daily—is far from trivial. In the absence of swift and well-communicated remedial measures, the sense of abandonment grows. What adds insult to injury is the lack of clear, timely updates from the concerned government agencies tasked to ensure the safety and usability of such a crucial structure.
Given the San Juanico Bridge’s age and importance, preventive maintenance should have been long prioritized. Its current condition points to systemic neglect. Infrastructure of this scale and significance should never have been allowed to deteriorate to the point of jeopardizing the lives of thousands. Public works officials and engineering departments must be held accountable not only for delayed responses but also for the absence of foresight. A reactive stance is dangerous and inefficient. Proper inspections, timely reinforcements, and strategic overhauls must be institutionalized—not merely launched when crisis strikes.
Urgency must now define every step taken moving forward. No vague timetables, no sluggish bidding processes, no bureaucratic delays. The repairs must be accelerated, and safety must not be compromised for the sake of shortcuts. A comprehensive audit of the bridge’s structural integrity is needed, along with a long-term maintenance plan that guards against future disruptions. The bridge must remain not just a landmark of history but a functional and dependable path for every Filipino who crosses it.
