'Wag niyo samantalahin!' OCD urges probe into passenger, cargo fare hike amid load restrictions on San Juanico Bridge

**media[16324]**The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) called on transportation agencies on Monday, June 2, to look into the reported increase in passenger and cargo fares in Eastern Visayas (Region 8) believed to be linked to the ongoing crisis caused by load restrictions on the San Juanico Bridge.OCD Administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno wrote a letter addressed to Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vince Dizon where he expressed concern that recent restrictions on the iconic bridge may have something to do with the fare hikes affecting routes to Tacloban, Catarman, and Ormoc City.Nepomuceno asked the DOTr, particularly through the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), to investigate the fare hikes, emphasizing the urgency of immediate intervention to ensure the continued movement of passengers and goods, prevent further frustration among residents, and stabilize the region’s economic and market conditions.“We respectfully appeal to the Civil Aeronautics Board and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines to immediately look into this matter and implement appropriate legal measures to thwart or regulate these purported airfare and cargo fare increases,” Nepomuceno said.“We defer to your wisdom to explore additional remedies such as increasing the number of flights to airports in the region such as Ormoc, Calbayog, and Catarman, even if only during the duration of the San Juanico Bridge rehabilitation. Considering the size of these airports, runway capacity, and night-rated navigation ability, we hope other similar options could be discussed to decongest Tacloban Airport,” he added.The civil defense chief said that any intervention to control the purported fare increase would help diffuse the frustration of the affected public and stabilize the local market and economic conditions.The OCD also raised the possibility of issuing provisional permits and certificates of public convenience for public transport and the movement of goods to complement the proposed increase in flights.Nepomuceno hopes such measures can be quickly facilitated by the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), and Maritime Industry Authority (Marina).The San Juanico Bridge was partially closed to traffic after the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) enforced a three-ton weight restriction on May 14, citing the bridge's worsening condition.The bridge, serving as a crucial section of the Maharlika Highway, plays an essential role in inter-island transportation, economic activities, and national connectivity. It accommodates more than 14,000 vehicles each day, including 1,396 heavy trucks.The weight limit on the San Juanico Bridge has already left more than 200 vehicles stranded and is expected to result in economic losses ranging from P300 million to P600 million per month.The OCD has recommended to President Marcos Jr. the declaration of a state of calamity in Eastern Visayas to accelerate the release of essential funds and enable the immediate rehabilitation of the bridge, which would restore vital logistics and public services.Around P7 billion is needed to repair and rehabilitate the San Juanico Bridge, according to estimates from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Managament Council (NDRRMC).