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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Visayas devider Calbayog-Ormoc sea trips up amid San Juanico Bridge crisis

Calbayog-Ormoc sea trips up amid San Juanico Bridge crisis

Published May 20, 2025 05:24 pm
TACLOBAN CITY – The Maritime Industry Authority has issued a 30-day special permit to seven roll-on, roll-off vessels to operate between Calbayog City in Samar and Ormoc City in Leyte to minimize transport disruption in the region amid limited access to the San Juanico Bridge.
Given special permits for the 13-hour trip are vessels LCT Poseidon 40, MV Poseidon 48, MV Poseidon 50, and MV Poseidon 41, owned by ALD Sea Transport, Marina said in its official Facebook page on Tuesday.
All vessels have daily trips except for LCT Poseidon 40, with three times weekly trips every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. MV Poseidon 41, meanwhile, also makes stops at Ouano port in Mandaue City, Cebu.
Other RoRo vessels with special permits are LCT 668, LCT 888, and MV LCT 1098 owned by Seen Sam Shipping Inc. These vessels have daily trips between the islands of Leyte and Samar.
“This is to help address ongoing transportation and logistics challenges – particularly the movement of goods and essential cargoes from Luzon to the Visayas – caused by the weight restrictions on the San Juanico Bridge,” the Marina regional office here said.
Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Eastern Visayas Regional Director Meylene Rosales said opening of new RoRo routes would mitigate the impact of transport disruptions.
“Shipping companies are willing to launch additional routes, and we are happy to see Marina extending assistance. That’s a good opportunity for our businesses to flourish,” she said in an interview Tuesday.
Other potential RoRo ports are in Tacloban City; Basey, Samar; and Carigara, Leyte, but these sites need improvements before they can accommodate large vessels.
Meanwhile, in anticipation of heavy traffic in Ormoc, the city government and the Philippine Ports Authority have identified three areas outside the city’s commercial district to be used as truck stops, but only for those with complete documents and confirmed schedules.
Designating truck stops helps in minimizing vehicle congestion at the city proper, particularly along the road leading to the port in Barangay Punta, according to the city government, as it appealed to lot owners to allow their property to be used as temporary parking space.
P500-M calamity fund
Rosales is seeking the immediate release of P500 million in calamity funds for the repair of San Juanico Bridge.
She said the Regional Development Council passed a resolution during a meeting Monday to expedite the release of disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) funds.
“We can ask for the release of DRRM funds since the crisis arising from the limited access along San Juanico is treated as a disaster,” Rosales told the Philippine News Agency on Tuesday.
The fund will be used for the repair of some bridge foundation within the year, but Rosales said the fund is not enough to restore the load capacity of the 53-year-old bridge.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said it needs some P5.68 billion for the full rehabilitation of the bridge. The funding requirements are being pushed for inclusion in the 2026 and 2027 General Appropriations Act.
The resolution also enjoined Congress to grant President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. emergency powers to utilize the national calamity fund for the bridge repair.
Meanwhile, the RDC endorsed the request of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to release P195 million for the immediate response to the crisis.
“The fund will be mainly used to support the operations center and other immediate response of the government for those affected by this crisis,” Rosales added.

Related Tags

San Juanico Bridge Marina Calbayog City Ormoc City
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