The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) assured residents of Tacloban and Samar Provinces of unimpeded flow of movement of essential commodities, especially perishable goods, to sustain food security and supply chain in the region amid the San Juanico Bridge limit access.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered government agencies to ensure the timely delivery of essential goods and services and restore regional interconnectivity between the two provinces.
PPA General Manager Jay Santiago said he has instructed port terminals under the PPA to prioritize the movement of perishable materials, especially under the care of the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Social Welfare Development (DSWD), and Office of Civil Defense (OCD).
“As far as the PPA is concerned, our role is to ensure the free flow of cargo—that our logistics chain is not disrupted,” Santiago said.
“My standing order for our ports terminals, not just in Tacloban or Samar, is that perishable materials, products under the supervision of the Department of Agriculture, or products of the DSWD or Office of Civil Defense, that is a priority. So we prioritize those products,” he added.
The expanded Amandayehan Port in Basey, Samar, and Tacloban Port, according to Santiago, will now be operational 24/7 to serve passengers as well as truckers to address the transport disruption.
“Hopefully, as the situation normalizes, our countrymen in Leyte and Samar will be able to breathe a little easier and basic necessities such as crude oil, gasoline, and food will stabilize,” he added.
