TACLOBAN | June 17, 2025
By Maria Kalamatas
Category: Land Transport → Policy & Infrastructure
When Ricardo Mendoza left his warehouse in Cebu before sunrise, he didn’t expect to spend the rest of his day in a queue stretching two kilometers from the San Juanico Bridge. He was moving tools and materials for a hospital project in Leyte. What stopped him had nothing to do with traffic—at least, not the usual kind.
A newly enforced policy, announced barely twelve hours earlier, now grants priority passage to trucks transporting perishable goods across one of the Philippines’ most critical inter-island routes. The measure already creates ripple effects far beyond agriculture, as it supports farmers and reduces food spoilage during peak harvest season.
Frustration Behind the Wheel
“I understand why it’s important,” Mendoza said, wiping sweat from his brow. “But someone should have told us ahead of time. We’ve got deadlines too.”
His frustration echoes throughout the logistics sector. Several operators report missed deliveries, rescheduled bookings, and a sudden increase in operational costs. Many claim they weren’t consulted or even informed until after the regulation had taken effect.
The Department of Transportation insists the measure is temporary. Officials argue it’s a practical solution to prevent post-harvest losses, especially for banana and mango growers in Samar. But the abruptness of the move has raised eyebrows—and tempers.
A Bridge Under Pressure
The San Juanico Bridge, which links Leyte and Samar, isn’t just a scenic landmark. It’s a lifeline for supply chains that feed markets, factories, hospitals, and households. On a regular weekday, over 3,500 trucks cross the span—hauling everything from fish and fruits to building materials and pharmaceuticals.
New checkpoints, now verifying cargo types, are redirecting or delaying non-priority trucks. That delay is already creating scheduling chaos, especially for small freight firms that rely on tight margins and limited fleets.
“We Can’t Carry Air”
That’s how Jun de la Cruz, who manages a fleet of 12 delivery trucks based in Ormoc, summarized his situation. “We’re told to wait or take a longer route. But clients don’t pay us to sit still or drive empty for four extra hours.”
He believes in supporting farmers—but not at the cost of crippling other parts of the economy. His team has now parked two trucks until the policy changes. “It’s not worth the fuel.”
An Uneven Road Ahead
Stakeholders are calling for adjustments: clearer schedules, exemption windows for critical cargo, or even a digital permit system to balance flows fairly. But as of Monday evening, the transport office had issued no new guidance.
Instead, officials reiterated that the policy will stay in place for a 30-day test period, after which its effectiveness will be reviewed. Meanwhile, logistics companies are preparing for potential disruptions, hoping that someone will take notice before the bridges turn into battlefields.
