Tacloban under state of emergency due to San Juanico Bridge crisis
(INQUIRER FILE PHOTO)
TACLOBAN CITY – The city council here declared a state of emergency on Thursday as transport of goods and medical supplies between Leyte and Samar provinces has been disrupted due to the limited access of San Juanico Bridge.
Citing Section 16 of the Local Government Code and relevant national disaster protocols, the city government, in a statement, said a state of emergency can be declared when public safety is at risk or when immediate action is needed to respond to a crisis or disruption of essential services.
“With restricted access to San Juanico, the main gateway in and out of Tacloban, the city is facing serious concerns related to economic flow, emergency response, and supply chain delays. This declaration allows the local government to act faster, allocate emergency funds, and coordinate with national agencies for support,” it said.
In a press briefing late Wednesday, Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan appealed to the Tacloban city government to place the area under a state of emergency.
The declaration, according to Tan, will help concerned government agencies take necessary steps to hasten the ongoing repair being done at the Amandayehan Port in Basey, Samar.
“The declaration of a state of emergency will give leverage to the national government, particularly the Department of Transportation and the Philippine Ports Authority, to do away with the regular process of procurement to fast-track whatever implementation is necessary to address the gap,” she said.
Daily, some 1,400 cargo trucks cross the 2.16-kilometer San Juanico Bridge, which links the islands of Luzon to Mindanao.
The three-ton load limit on the iconic bridge has affected the fuel supply in Samar since gas stations source out their stocks from an oil depot in Babatngon, Leyte.
Also affected are construction materials such as aggregates, which Samar gets from Leyte.
Currently, the only connection between Samar and Leyte during this crisis is the Maguino-o Port in Calbayog City to the GGC Port, a private company-owned anchorage in Ormoc City.
Travel time from Ormoc to Calbayog is 13 hours.
An alternate, shorter route is being developed using the Amandayehan Port in Basey, which is owned by the local government, connecting to Tacloban Port. The target is to make the port functional next week.
Ongoing improvements at the Amandayehan Port are being funded by the Department of Public Works and Highways.
Travel time between Tacloban City and Amandayehan Port is less than 30 minutes.
