The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Eastern Visayas has turned over 25 units of 500-watt solar lights to the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) to support the upcoming full operations of the Amandayehan Port in Basey, Samar.

The solar lights received on Monday by the PPA Eastern Leyte/Samar project management office aim to enhance visibility, safety, and operational continuity within the port premises, especially during night operations.

“The donation was made in response to the ongoing weight limitations imposed on the San Juanico Bridge, which resulted in a surge of rerouted cargo traffic through the Amandayehan Port,” OCD Eastern Visayas regional director Lord Byron Torrecarion said.

The augmentation of solar lights is part of OCD’s efforts to support the PPA and other stakeholders in ensuring the uninterrupted movement of essential goods and services in Eastern Visayas, he said.

Amid the San Juanico Bridge crisis, the contractor tasked to improve the Amandayehan Port has been working double-time to make the wharf functional this week.

The work improvement focused on strengthening and expanding the ramps to make it easier for wheeled vehicles to load and unload, particularly during high tide.

On May 25, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon requested officials in Eastern Visayas to make the Amandayehan Port functional within two weeks to address logistical hurdles amid the San Juanico Bridge load limit, in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to ensure an uninterrupted movement of supplies between Leyte and Samar provinces.

Travel between Tacloban City and Amandayehan Port takes less than 30 minutes.

Currently, truckers and cargo vehicles are using the Maguino-o and Calbayog ports to reach a private port in Ormoc City as alternative routes.

Travel time between the two ports using a roll-on, roll-off route is 13 hours, with the rate ranging from PHP15,000 to more than PHP20,000 per cargo truck. (PNA)