Port delays threaten new Tacloban-Samar ferry route

TACLOBAN CITY — Less than a week since the Amandayehan-Tacloban ferry boats started operation as an alternate route for cargo trucks and buses due to vehicle load restrictions imposed on San Juanico Bridge, one shipping line is already threatening to stop its operation.

The reason? Poor port management on the Tacloban side.

Leyte Board Member Wilson Uy said a roll-on/roll-off boat operator is planning to withdraw from the route due to the extremely slow loading process at Tacloban Port.

Uy, who is an owner of a chain of gasoline stations in Eastern Visayas and former governor of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that while the trip itself from Amandayehan in Basey, Samar to Tacloban port only takes 20 minutes, the process of loading, unloading, inspection and checkpoint in Tacloban takes over two hours.

Five vessels currently serve the route, making six trips daily and accommodating at least 20 trucks, wing vans, buses and other heavy vehicles per trip.

The Tacloban port, owned by the Philippine Ports Authority, has been managed by Globalport Terminals since the company secured a Port Terminal Management Contract in November 2021.

The takeover faced strong opposition, especially from the business sector, after the company imposed a 300 to 400 percent hike in arrastre rates right after assuming control.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visited the Amandayehan and Tacloban ports, as well as the San Juanico Bridge, on Wednesday to inspect the ongoing repairs and upgrading activities.

Marcos said the government aims to increase the number of trucks and buses transported daily on the Amandayehan-Tacloban route to 500. The plans include expanding the port ramp on the Samar side and installing night navigation facilities to allow ferry operations beyond the current 5 p.m. cut-off.