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.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
