Eastern Visayas hit by shortages as San Juanico Bridge rehab stalls

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The ban on trucks, buses, and other vehicles weighing three tons or more has cut off the flow of goods, squeezing Eastern Visayas’ already fragile supply chain

TACLOBAN, Philippines – The rehabilitation of the aging San Juanico Bridge hasn’t even started, but local governments in Tacloban City, and the provinces of Eastern Samar and Samar have already declared states of emergency – forced into action as the truck and cargo ban on the bridge began choking supply lines and rattling the region’s economy.

Since May 15, the San Juanico Bridge, a vital link between Samar and Leyte, has been under strict weight limits. Anything over three tons is barred.

The ban on trucks, buses, and other vehicles weighing three tons or more has cut off the flow of goods, squeezing the Eastern Visayas region’s already fragile supply chain.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) estimated that the full rehabilitation will cost P7 billion. Until then, it said it would continue to enforce the three-ton weight limit to ensure public safety.

Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Regional Director Lord Byron Torrecarion said rehabilitation efforts have been delayed due to a lack of funding. Neither has the project been awarded to any contractor.

He told Rappler on Saturday evening, May 31, that the Regional Development Council (RDC) had already requested the release of P500 million from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRMF), managed by the OCD, as initial funding for the project.

“Some requirements are still pending,” Torrecarion said, but he expressed hope that these would be completed within the week. 

He said the request will then be endorsed to the OCD national office and could be given the green light by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) within a month.

Torrecarion added that the bidding process for the project is expected to proceed swiftly, citing the declared states of emergency as a factor that would facilitate expedited procedures.

The partial closure of the aging bridge has caused fuel and goods shortages in Samar and Eastern Samar, with prices of basic commodities surging, according to Philippine Information Agency-Eastern Visayas Director Reyan Arinto.

In Eastern Samar, disruptions have affected consumer goods and construction materials from Tacloban City. 

Fuel deliveries from major players like Caltex, Shell, and Petron have also hit delays, adding pressure to an already strained supply system.

In response, the provincial government of Eastern Samar called for transport subsidies, particularly for roll-on/roll-off (RORO) services, to cushion the impact of rising logistics costs.

Local officials have also appealed for direct RORO trips to the province to help stabilize supply chains.

In Basey, Samar, several dozen truckers remained stranded in Barangay Amandayehan, where they have been waiting for nearly a month for repairs at the local port to be completed.

Acting on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive, the DPWH has committed to fast-tracking transport solutions, aiming to increase the San Juanico Bridge’s load limit to 10 tons within five months after the start of emergency repairs. – Rappler.com