The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) are scrambling to ensure continued trade flow and mobility between Samar and Leyte following the restricted tonnage of vehicles passing through the San Juanico Bridge, which links the two Visayan provinces.
DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon and PPA General Manager Jay Santiago and other DOTr officials conducted an inspection of Tacloban Port and Amandeyahan Port in Basey, Samar on May 25, 2025 to check if these ports can serve as options for cargo and heavy vehicles affected by the San Juanico Bridge maintenance operation.
The Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) has limiting the allowable tonnage of vehicles passing through the San Juanico Bridge to 3 tonnage and below only since May 25, 2025.
Dizon’s inspection focused on assessing the port’s capacity and surrounding infrastructure, as well as identifying how Tacloban Port can serve as an alternate route for cargo and heavy vehicles affected by the bridge restriction. DOTr would like to ensure enhanced intermodal transport options.
The Amandayehan Port is not a PPA port, but is managed by the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Basey. While classified as a government port, the PPA maintains only regulatory oversight to ensure safety and coordination with national port policies.
PPA said that Amandayehan Port still needs further improvements before it can accommodate safe maritime operations.
In accordance with MARINA and PPA protocols, a valid PPA Certification is required to ensure that vessels can safely and lawfully dock at any port facility.
In line with the San Juanico Bridge issue, the DPWH Samar 2nd District Engineering Office issued a Certification of Port Readiness on May 22, 2025 allowing limited cargo and RORO/LCT operations, but only pending full port development and subject to compliance with operational and regulatory requirements.
The PPA acknowledged that while the DPWH, in coordination with the LGU of Basey, has begun improvements to the port, it still requires significant upgrades to meet national standards for maritime operations.
Already, some freight forwarders have advised of delayed deliveries of cargoes and parcels while increased truck traffic have been reported at Batangas Port following the San Juanico Bridge advisory.
The PPA had advised the heavy trucks crossing Samar and Leyte may divert to the Roro-Roro ports in Tacloban, Calbayog, Catbalogan, Biliran, Ormoc, Manguinoo, Hilongos, Maasin, Naval, Palompon, Calubian, and Villaba.
Repairs of the 52-year-old structure, the longest bridge in the Philippines, are expected to take at least a year once they begin.
