Government and the business sector are looking at establishing Samar as logistics and food security hubs in Eastern Visayas, which is composed of six provinces — Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Samar, Eastern Samar, and Northern Samar.
This transpired during a tripartite supply chain and logistics dialogue held recently in Tacloban following the closure of the weakened San Juanico Bridge, which has triggered logistical and supply chain concerns for Region 8. A new San Juanico Bridge is expected to be fully completed in one year.
In its website post, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) – Catbalogan City, Inc. participated during the Leyte-Samar’s Supply Chain/Logistics Future dialogue in government response to the San Juanico Bridge crisis. Representing the PCCI Chamber were President Ariel D. Donceras, Secretary Lourdes Ty-Singzon, and the Chairman of the Environment and Sustainability Committee Raul A. Reyes.
Together, they joined the country’s key industry players and government partners in charting a visionary plan: to establish Samar Island as a strategic logistics and food security hub in Eastern Visayas.
The proposal includes the establishment of a food security depot; integrated warehousing, cold chain, and fuel depot facilities; a RoRo/LCT-enabled port system; and a Philippine Economic Zone Authority-registered, off-grid/on-grid hybrid logistics zone with a 7–9 meter water draft, ready for rolling cargo and containerized solutions
“This is more than infrastructure—it’s a catalyst for rural economic transformation and resilience,” the PCCI Catbalogan said in its post.
A special working lunch was held with DTI Usec. Mary Jean T. Pacheco and top logistics executives, manufacturers, retailers, and regional directors of the Department of Public Works and Highways, and Department of Agriculture underscoring national support for Leyte-Samar’s future-forward logistics ambitions.
