PPA deployed interim port operations and coordinated measures easing congestion caused by the San Juanico Bridge load limit.
29 December 2025 — The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has recorded a significant improvement in traffic flow and logistics efficiency following the implementation of coordinated infrastructure, operational, and traffic management measures to address the build-up of cargo vehicles resulting from the load limit imposed on the San Juanico Bridge from May 16 to December 12, 2025. Shipcalls from June 2025 to November 2025 between the ports of Tacloban and Amandayehan reached up to 2,632 while rolling cargoes transported from said ports reached 7,256 for the same period.
Today, as of December 29, 2025, monitoring reports confirm the normalization of traffic conditions, with no truck queues observed along Tacloban Bypass Road and Amandayehan Port. This improvement coincided with the Department of Public Works and Highways’ implementation of a two-way increased load limit on the San Juanico Bridge effective December 12, allowing vehicles with up to 15-ton gross vehicle weight to cross the bridge.
It can be recalled that following the enforcement of the bridge restriction, significant congestion was observed along major access roads in Leyte and Samar, disrupting the movement of commercial vehicles and essential goods. In response to the directive of the national government to establish an alternative transport route, PPA General Manager Jay Santiago immediately assessed available port facilities and identified the port of Amandayehan in Basey, Samar as a strategically viable interim alternative due to its location and proximity to Tacloban Port.
To operationalize Amandayehan Port for increased cargo and vessel traffic, the PPA allocated more than ₱400 million from its own Corporate Operating Budget for targeted infrastructure interventions. These included physical port expansion works to accommodate RoRo and Landing Craft Tank (LCT) vessels, dredging activities to improve navigational depth, and the installation of navigational aids to ensure safe and continuous maritime operations, particularly during night-time and adverse weather conditions.
The interim port operations were implemented through close inter-agency coordination with the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), the local government units of Tacloban City and Basey, the Provincial Government of Samar, and Tingog Partylist. Organized truck queuing and traffic management systems were established on both the Tacloban and Basey sides to regulate port access, loading, and unloading activities and to prevent spillback along major road networks.
Under a 24-hour operational framework, an average of four vessels were deployed daily along the Tacloban–Amandayehan route to transport diverted cargo trucks. The Port Management Office (PMO) Eastern Leyte–Samar, in coordination with Globalport Tacloban Terminals Inc., ensured continuous monitoring of vessel movements, berth utilization, and cargo throughput. At peak operations, according to Acting Port Manager Steffi Guillamon, the interim route facilitated the movement of an average of 800 trucks per day.
“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,” said PPA General Manager Jay Santiago.
The PPA remains committed to strengthening transport system resilience through sustained port modernization, adaptive operational planning, and continued inter-agency coordination to support efficient, safe, and reliable maritime connectivity nationwide.
###