The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is spending P400 million to expand and modernize key ports in Samar, which will serve as alternate transport routes between the provinces of Leyte and Samar.
Less than a month after the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) implemented a three-ton weight limit on the San Juanico Bridge, the PPA inspected and identified the municipal fishing port of Amandayehan in Basey, Samar, as a strategic alternative route due to its location and proximity to Tacloban Port.
“These initiatives, with a total value of P410 million from the PPA’s Corporate Operating Budget, underscore our commitment to strengthening inter-island connectivity and supporting the economic growth of the Province of Leyte and the broader Eastern Visayas region,” PPA general manager Jay Santiago said.
To support maritime safety and navigational reliability of Amandayehan Port, the PPA will install 14 navigation buoys worth P100 million. These aids will ensure safer vessel passage, especially at night or during inclement weather, and will be part of the agency’s broader maritime infrastructure improvements in Eastern Visayas.
The agency also allocated P100 million for dredging works and P200 million for the port’s physical expansion, enabling it to handle more vessels and cargo volume.
The PPA is also finalizing the turnover of the Amandayehan Port from the local government unit (LGU) before the end of the year to further equip the port for this transition and future larger operations.
The PPA affirmed that the program goes beyond providing a short-term solution to the effects of the San Juanico Bridge restrictions.
It aims to establish long-term, reliable, and resilient transport systems in the region through continuous port modernization and seamless, sustainable connectivity across the country, ensuring Visayas operations continue unimpeded.
