With cargo trucks and buses still off-limits at the San Juanico Bridge, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) has launched a "Libreng Sakay" program for trucks passing through the Eastern Visayas region.
At least 11,394 cargo trucks are expected to benefit from the program which was launched last June 18, according to OCD Eastern Visayas Regional Director Lord Byron Torrecarion.
The office has contracted landing craft tank LCT Edison to make 633 trips crossing the San Juanico Strait, which separates Tacloban City and Amandayehan, Basey, Samar.
“Each trip can carry 18 cargo trucks. Our contract will end in three and a half months if there are three trips daily or up to five months for a twice-daily trip,” Torrecarrion told local media.
The number of daily trips largely depends on the expansion of Amandayehan port and the installation of buoys to aid night navigation of ships.
Currently, operation between the two ports is limited by the absence of night navigation and ongoing works to add another ramp in Amandayehan.
The program may be extended depending on the availability of funds.
On the first day of its operation, the program provided free trips to cargo trucks loaded with fresh produce, rice, fish, fuel, and other commodities critical to maintaining food security and commercial activity in Leyte and Samar provinces.
“The program offers free passage to suppliers of essential and perishable goods to sustain the supply chain of Eastern Visayas. It is expected to significantly ease logistical bottlenecks affecting key commodities in the region,” Torrecarion said.
Covered by the program are cargo trucks and delivery vehicles officially transporting essential and perishable goods such as food, medicine, water, animal feed, and fuel.
Government and humanitarian vehicles on official duty carrying relief goods or logistical support for disaster response operations are also included.
The Amandayehan-Tacloban route is a new shipping lane that complements existing ones, significantly reducing travel time to 15 to 20 minutes, excluding loading and unloading.
(With report from PNA)
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