CATBALOGAN CITY – The entire province of Samar was placed under a state of emergency on Tuesday due to restrictions imposed on the San Juanico Bridge, which has severely hampered the flow of supplies from Leyte Island.
The declaration was approved during the Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s 150th regular session held in the provincial capital.
Since May 15th, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has limited the use of the 53-year-old, 2.16-kilometer bridge to vehicles weighing no more than three tons as part of a two-year rehabilitation project.
This weight restriction has significantly impacted the transportation of fuel, medical supplies, and other essential goods from Tacloban City to Samar.
Vice Governor Arnold Tan explained that the state of emergency is crucial for controlling the prices of essential goods like food and fuel.
“The declaration will help control the prices of basic commodities such as food and fuel. Gas stations are running low, but thankfully, supplies are still arriving from Bicol,” Tan said. The oil depot in Babatngon, Leyte, is the primary source of fuel for most towns on Samar Island.
The provincial government will utilize its funds to subsidize the cost of transporting fuel from Leyte using the port in Barangay Amandayehan, Basey, Samar. Construction on this port is ongoing.
The declaration of a state of emergency is a direct response to a request from the Samar Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. Under the state of emergency, the government is authorized to take extraordinary measures to address the crisis.
