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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 28-km undersea tunnel link between Luzon and Visayas pushed in House

28-km undersea tunnel link between Luzon and Visayas pushed in House

Published Oct 12, 2025 02:14 pm

At A Glance

  • House Minority Leader 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino "Nonoy" Libanan has led 17 other solons in filing a measure for the construction of a permanent land connection between Luzon and the Visayas.
4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan (PPAB)
4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan (PPAB)


House Minority Leader 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan has led 17 other solons in filing a measure for the construction of a permanent land connection between Luzon and the Visayas.
Embodied in House Bill (HB) No. 4589 is a proposed fixed 28-kilometer crossing between the provinces of Sorsogon and Northern Samar. The bill bats for an undersea tunnel or long-span bridge across the San Bernardino Strait.
“This is an investment in national economic integration and long-term growth,” Libanan said in a statement Sunday, Oct. 12.
“A fixed link—whether a tunnel or a bridge—will cut travel time, guarantee year-round mobility even during storms, and unlock new opportunities for trade, tourism, and employment," he noted.
“Imagine being able to drive seamlessly from Metro Manila to Samar and Leyte without having to queue for a ferry. This will completely change the way people travel, move goods, and connect across our islands,” Libanan added.
Libanan says that the existing ferry link between Matnog and Allen is frequently disrupted by rough seas and congestion. “Our people deserve a faster, safer, and more dependable connection,” he said.
He also underscored the project’s economic significance. “Once completed, the fixed link will boost inter-island commerce, attract investors, and open wider markets for local products. This is how we create new jobs and lift more families out of poverty."
Beyond economic benefits, Libanan highlighted the project’s role in strengthening disaster response.
“The tunnel or bridge will allow quicker deployment of emergency services and delivery of relief supplies during calamities,” he pointed out.
Eastern Visayas is among the most typhoon-prone regions in the country, facing an average of 20 tropical cyclones a year. It is often the first to be hit by severe weather systems entering the Philippines.
“Every year we delay this project is a year of lost opportunities. It’s time to make this vision a reality for the next generation,” Libanan said.
The bill says that “The feasibility study and engineering design shall be undertaken by a qualified international consulting firm with proven experience in similar undersea tunnel or long-span bridge projects.”
Funding for the study and design shall be included in the General Appropriations Act.
The other authors of the bill are representatives Niko Raul Daza (Northern Samar, First District), Edwin Marino Ongchuan (Northern Samar, Second District), Stephen James Tan (Samar, First District), Reynolds Michael Tan (Samar, Second District), Christopher Sheen Gonzales (Eastern Samar, Lone District), Roger Mercado (Southern Leyte, First District), Christopherson Yap (Southern Leyte, Second District), and Gerardo Espina Jr. (Biliran, Lone District).
Former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez (Leyte, First District), Lolita Javier (Leyte, Second District), Anna Victoria Tuazon (Leyte, Third District), Richard Gomez (Leyte, Fourth District), Carl Nicolas Cari (Leyte, Fifth District), Andrew Julian Romualdez (Tingog), Jude Acidre (Tingog), Yedda Marie Romualdez (Tingog), and Jonathan Clement Abalos II (4Ps) also penned the measure.
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