A group of congressmen from Eastern Visayas led by House Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan has filed a bill calling for the construction of either an undersea tunnel or a bridge across the San Bernardino Strait designed to provide a faster and direct link between mainland Luzon and the Visayan Region.
Bill No. 4589 seeks to establish a 28-kilometer overland crossing between the provinces of Sorsogon and Northern Samar.
“This is an investment in national economic integration and long-term growth,” Libanan said in a statement.
“A fixed link—whether a tunnel or a bridge—will cut travel time, guarantee year-round mobility even during storms, and unlock new opportunities for trade, tourism, and employment,” he added.
“Imagine being able to drive seamlessly from Metro Manila to Samar and Leyte without having to queue for a ferry. This will completely change the way people travel, move goods, and connect across our islands,” Libanan said.
The other authors of the bill are Representatives Niko Raul Daza (Northern Samar, First District), Edwin Marino Ongchuan (Northern Samar, Second District), Stephen James Tan (Samar, First District), Reynolds Michael Tan (Samar, Second District), Christopher Sheen Gonzales (Eastern Samar, Lone District), Roger Mercado (Southern Leyte, First District), Christopherson Yap (Southern Leyte, Second District), Gerardo Espina Jr.(Biliran, Lone District);
Ferdinand Martin Romualdez (Leyte, First District),Lolita Javier (Leyte, Second District), Anna Victoria Tuazon (Leyte, Third District), Richard Gomez (Leyte, Fourth District), Carl Nicolas Cari (Leyte, Fifth District), Andrew Julian Romualdez (Tingog), Jude Acidre (Tingog), Yedda Marie Romualdez (Tingog), and Jonathan Clement Abalos II (4Ps).
Libanan noted that the existing ferry link between Matnog and Allen is frequently disrupted by rough seas and congestion.
“Our people deserve a faster, safer, and more dependable connection,” he said.
He also underscored the project’s economic significance. “Once completed, the fixed link will boost inter-island commerce, attract investors, and open wider markets for local products. This is how we create new jobs and lift more families out of poverty,” Libanan explained.
Beyond economic benefits, Libanan highlighted the project’s role in strengthening disaster response.
“The tunnel or bridge will allow quicker deployment of emergency services and delivery of relief supplies during calamities,” he pointed out.
Eastern Visayas is among the most typhoon-prone regions in the country, facing an average of 20 tropical cyclones a year. It is often the first to be hit by severe weather systems entering the Philippines.
Libanan, a 4Ps representative, urged Congress to act swiftly on the measure.
“Every year we delay this project is a year of lost opportunities. It’s time to make this vision a reality for the next generation,” he said.
Under the bill, “the feasibility study and engineering design shall be undertaken by a qualified international consulting firm with proven experience in similar undersea tunnel or long-span bridge projects.”
Funding for the study and design shall be included in the General Appropriations Act.
