ADVERTISEMENT
Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PPA: Tacloban-Amandayehan Route restores E. Visayas cargo flow after San Juanico Bridge restrictions

PPA: Tacloban-Amandayehan Route restores E. Visayas cargo flow after San Juanico Bridge restrictions

Published Dec 30, 2025 03:46 pm
For the first time in months, buses and trucks were seen crossing the iconic San Juanico Bridge following retrofitting works to strengthen the integrity of the structure on Dec. 10, 2025 during a dry run conducted by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Region 8. To recall, an immediate three-metric ton weight restriction was earlier imposed by the DPWH on the San Juanico Bridge from May 16 to Dec. 12 after recent assessments indicated structural vulnerabilities on the iconic link between Leyte and Samar. An increased load limit to 15-ton capacity was fully implemented on Dec. 12. (Photo: Tacloban City Information Office)
For the first time in months, buses and trucks were seen crossing the iconic San Juanico Bridge following retrofitting works to strengthen the integrity of the structure on Dec. 10, 2025 during a dry run conducted by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Region 8. To recall, an immediate three-metric ton weight restriction was earlier imposed by the DPWH on the San Juanico Bridge from May 16 to Dec. 12 after recent assessments indicated structural vulnerabilities on the iconic link between Leyte and Samar. An increased load limit to 15-ton capacity was fully implemented on Dec. 12. (Photo: Tacloban City Information Office)
Traffic along major access roads in Leyte and Samar have returned to normal following months of congestion caused by the San Juanico Bridge load limit, the Philippine Port Authority (PPA) reported on Monday, Dec. 29.
Based on the PPA’s monitoring report, there were no longer truck queues seen along the Tacloban Bypass Road and Amandayehan Port.
PPA General Manager Jay Santiago credited the improvement to coordinated infrastructure upgrades, traffic management measures, and increased bridge load capacity.
“Before the year ends, the PPA would like to announce that the restored traffic flow has resulted in improved logistics efficiency, reduced turnaround time for cargo and perishable goods, and more reliable inter-island connectivity between Leyte and Samar, contributing to the stabilization of economic activity in Eastern Visayas,” he said.
According to the PPA, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) raised the San Juanico Bridge limit to 15 tons last Dec. 12, allowing heavier vehicles to cross.
To recall, an immediate three-metric ton weight restriction was earlier imposed by the DWPH on the San Juanico Bridge from May 16 to Dec. 12 after recent assessments indicated structural vulnerabilities on the iconic link between Leyte and Samar.
During the bridge restriction, the PPA established an interim transport route through Amandayehan Port in Basey, Samar.
The port was upgraded with dredging, physical expansion, and navigational aids, funded with over P400 million from the PPA’s Corporate Operating Budget.
Under 24-hour operations, four vessels operated daily between Tacloban and Amandayehan, the PPA said. The route moved an average of 800 trucks per day at peak operations while shipcalls from June to November reached 2,632, and rolling cargo totaled 7,256 units.
The PPA said it will continue efforts to modernize ports and strengthen maritime transport resilience.
It said close coordination with the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), DPWH, and local government units will remain central to ensuring safe and efficient operations.

Related Tags

PPA San Juanico Bridge Jay Santiago
ADVERTISEMENT
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1561_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1562_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1563_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}

{{ articles_filter_1564_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.mb-article-details { position: relative; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview, .mb-article-details .article-body-summary{ font-size: 17px; line-height: 30px; font-family: "Libre Caslon Text", serif; color: #000; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview iframe , .mb-article-details .article-body-summary iframe{ width: 100%; margin: auto; } .read-more-background { background: linear-gradient(180deg, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0) 13.75%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0.8) 30.79%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000) 72.5%); position: absolute; height: 200px; width: 100%; bottom: 0; display: flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center; padding: 0; } .read-more-background a{ color: #000; } .read-more-btn { padding: 17px 45px; font-family: Inter; font-weight: 700; font-size: 18px; line-height: 16px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; border: 1px solid black; background-color: white; } .hidden { display: none; }
function initializeAllSwipers() { // Get all hidden inputs with cms_article_id document.querySelectorAll('[id^="cms_article_id_"]').forEach(function (input) { const cmsArticleId = input.value; const articleSelector = '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .body_images'; const swiperElement = document.querySelector(articleSelector); if (swiperElement && !swiperElement.classList.contains('swiper-initialized')) { new Swiper(articleSelector, { loop: true, pagination: false, navigation: { nextEl: '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .swiper-button-next', prevEl: '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .swiper-button-prev', }, }); } }); } setTimeout(initializeAllSwipers, 3000); const intersectionObserver = new IntersectionObserver( (entries) => { entries.forEach((entry) => { if (entry.isIntersecting) { const newUrl = entry.target.getAttribute("data-url"); if (newUrl) { history.pushState(null, null, newUrl); let article = entry.target; // Extract metadata const author = article.querySelector('.author-section').textContent.replace('By', '').trim(); const section = article.querySelector('.section-info ').textContent.replace(' ', ' '); const title = article.querySelector('.article-title h1').textContent; // Parse URL for Chartbeat path format const parsedUrl = new URL(newUrl, window.location.origin); const cleanUrl = parsedUrl.host + parsedUrl.pathname; // Update Chartbeat configuration if (typeof window._sf_async_config !== 'undefined') { window._sf_async_config.path = cleanUrl; window._sf_async_config.sections = section; window._sf_async_config.authors = author; } // Track virtual page view with Chartbeat if (typeof pSUPERFLY !== 'undefined' && typeof pSUPERFLY.virtualPage === 'function') { try { pSUPERFLY.virtualPage({ path: cleanUrl, title: title, sections: section, authors: author }); } catch (error) { console.error('ping error', error); } } // Optional: Update document title if (title && title !== document.title) { document.title = title; } } } }); }, { threshold: 0.1 } ); function showArticleBody(button) { const article = button.closest("article"); const summary = article.querySelector(".article-body-summary"); const body = article.querySelector(".article-body-preview"); const readMoreSection = article.querySelector(".read-more-background"); // Hide summary and read-more section summary.style.display = "none"; readMoreSection.style.display = "none"; // Show the full article body body.classList.remove("hidden"); } document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", () => { let loadCount = 0; // Track how many times articles are loaded const offset = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]; // Offset values const currentUrl = window.location.pathname.substring(1); let isLoading = false; // Prevent multiple calls if (!currentUrl) { console.log("Current URL is invalid."); return; } const sentinel = document.getElementById("load-more-sentinel"); if (!sentinel) { console.log("Sentinel element not found."); return; } function isSentinelVisible() { const rect = sentinel.getBoundingClientRect(); return ( rect.top < window.innerHeight && rect.bottom >= 0 ); } function onScroll() { if (isLoading) return; if (isSentinelVisible()) { if (loadCount >= offset.length) { console.log("Maximum load attempts reached."); window.removeEventListener("scroll", onScroll); return; } isLoading = true; const currentOffset = offset[loadCount]; window.loadMoreItems().then(() => { let article = document.querySelector('#widget_1690 > div:nth-last-of-type(2) article'); intersectionObserver.observe(article) loadCount++; }).catch(error => { console.error("Error loading more items:", error); }).finally(() => { isLoading = false; }); } } window.addEventListener("scroll", onScroll); });
Join Our Newsletters

Sign up by email to receive news.

© 2025 Manila Bulletin The Nation's Leading Newspaper. All Rights Reserved.