By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz | Philippine News Agency
The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) on Thursday reported a marked improvement in vehicle movement and logistics efficiency in ports near the San Juanico Bridge following interventions to address congestion caused by the bridge’s load limit.
In a statement, the PPA said ship calls between the ports of Tacloban and Amandayehan from June to November 2025 totaled 2,632, while 7,256 rolling cargo units or trucks were transported during the period.
“As of December 29, 2025, monitoring reports confirm the normalization of traffic conditions, with no truck queues observed along Tacloban Bypass Road and Amandayehan Port,” the PPA said.
The improved traffic flow coincided with the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) implementation of a two-way increased load limit on the San Juanico Bridge, allowing vehicles with a gross weight of up to 15 tons to cross starting Dec. 12, 2025.
Following the load limit imposed on May 16, 2025, significant congestion was observed along major access roads in Leyte and Samar, disrupting the movement of commercial vehicles and essential goods.
In response to a government directive to establish an alternative route, PPA General Manager Jay Santiago ordered the assessment of available port facilities, which identified the port of Amandayehan in Basey, Samar, as a “strategically viable interim alternative due to its location and proximity to Tacloban Port.”
To allow the port to have increased cargo and vessel traffic, the PPA allocated over PHP400 million from its corporate operating budget for targeted infrastructure interventions in Amandayehan Port.
“These included physical port expansion works to accommodate RoRo and Landing Craft Tank (LCT) vessels, dredging activities to improve navigational depth, and the installation of navigational aids to ensure safe and continuous maritime operations, particularly during night-time and adverse weather conditions,” it said.
The agency also partnered with the Maritime Industry Authority, Philippine Coast Guard, DPWH, local government units of Tacloban City and Basey, provincial government of Samar and Tingog Party-list to implement interim port operations.
“Organized truck queuing and traffic management systems were established on both the Tacloban and Basey sides to regulate port access, loading, and unloading activities and to prevent spillback along major road networks,” it said.
On average, four vessels were deployed daily along the Tacloban–Amandayehan route, transporting about 800 cargo trucks per day through the interim link.
“The PPA remains committed to strengthening transport system resilience through sustained port modernization, adaptive operational planning, and continued inter-agency coordination to support efficient, safe, and reliable maritime connectivity nationwide,” it added. (PNA)
