MANILA – Traffic and logistics operations have significantly improved at ports near the San Juanico Bridge, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) announced on Thursday, following measures to address congestion caused by previous weight restrictions on the bridge.
According to the PPA, ship calls between Tacloban Port and Amandayehan Port from June to November 2025 totaled 2,632, while 7,256 rolling cargo units, mainly trucks, were transported during the same period.
“As of December 29, 2025, monitoring reports confirm that traffic conditions have normalized, with no truck queues observed along Tacloban Bypass Road and Amandayehan Port,” the PPA said.
The smoother traffic flow resulted from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) implementing a two-way increase in the load limit on the San Juanico Bridge.
Since December 12, 2025, vehicles weighing up to 15 tons are now allowed to cross.
Previously, after a load restriction was imposed on May 16, 2025, heavy congestion disrupted the movement of commercial vehicles and essential goods along key access roads in Leyte and Samar.
Following a government directive to provide alternative routes, PPA General Manager Jay Santiago led an assessment of available port facilities, identifying Amandayehan Port in Basey, Samar, as a strategically viable interim option due to its proximity to Tacloban Port.
To handle increased cargo and vessel traffic, the PPA allocated more than PHP 400 million from its corporate operating budget for targeted infrastructure improvements at Amandayehan Port.
Measures included physical port expansion for RoRo and Landing Craft Tank (LCT) vessels, dredging to improve navigational depth, and installation of navigational aids for safe operations during nighttime and adverse weather.
The PPA also collaborated with the Maritime Industry Authority, Philippine Coast Guard, DPWH, local governments of Tacloban City and Basey, the Samar provincial government, and Tingog Party-list to oversee interim port operations.
“Organized truck queuing and traffic management systems were set up on both the Tacloban and Basey sides to regulate port access, loading, and unloading activities and prevent spillback along major roads,” the agency said.
On average, four vessels now operate daily on the Tacloban–Amandayehan route, transporting roughly 800 cargo trucks per day via 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 ensure efficient, safe, and reliable maritime connectivity nationwide,” it added.