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.”
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
