OCD offers free rides in Leyte

The Manila Times

OCD offers free rides in Leyte  Amid mobility restrictions on the San Juanico Bridge, the Office of Civil Defense in Eastern Visayas has ramped up efforts to sustain the region’s supply chain through its “Libreng Sakay Program” for essential and perishable goods.  OCD 8 Director Lord Byron Torrecarion told The Manila Times on Monday, July 14, 2025, during the Regional Rescue Jamboree in Baybay City, Leyte, that they operate four to six trips daily. The government tapped Roble Shipping Co. as the vessel operator for the route  As government agencies work to complete the San Juanico Bridge repairs, Torrecarion also revealed that plans are underway to construct a new bridge to serve as a long-term solution to the region’s growing transport demands.   VIDEO BY KAISER JAN FUENTES  Subscribe to The Manila Times Channel - https://tmt.ph/YTSubscribe  Visit our website at https://www.manilatimes.net     Follow us:  Facebook - https://tmt.ph/facebook  Instagram - https://tmt.ph/instagram  Twitter - https://tmt.ph/twitter  DailyMotion - https://tmt.ph/dailymotion    Subscribe to our Digital Edition - https://tmt.ph/digital    Check out our Podcasts:  Spotify - https://tmt.ph/spotify  Apple Podcasts - https://tmt.ph/applepodcasts  Amazon Music - https://tmt.ph/amazonmusic  Deezer: https://tmt.ph/deezer  Stitcher: https://tmt.ph/stitcher Tune In: https://tmt.ph/tunein   #TheManilaTimes #TMTNews #Philippines #Leyte

Transcript

00:00San Juanico is really a vital role, not only for the region but for the country,

00:08being the main supply route of those going to and from Mindanao and Luzon.

00:14So not only that, that is the main component also of supplying the island of Samar.

00:20But we're very happy that given the support of the President, our NDRIM Secretary and our CDA,

00:29we are able to provide for essential and perishable items.

00:35Can you explain about that program, sir?

00:38Well, that program basically is in response to the directive of the President to ensure the unhampered flow of supplies,

00:45especially essential and perishable, to the island of Samar and to Luzon and Mindanao and vice versa.

00:53This is because, for example, for fuel, Samar only has around 7 to 14 days of fuel.

01:00Wala po siyang major depot. So all the supply is coming from Rayte.

01:05So that's why it's essential to maintain that flow of supplies.

01:09The same also for red stock, so that there will be no inflationary effects.

01:14Kasi we have monitored that when the supply levels are low,

01:19meron mga inflationary effects sa mataas ang presyo.

01:22So that is what we're trying to achieve.

01:24To stabilize prices, to ensure na hindi magkukulang yung supply ng food, ng fuel,

01:30and all the basic necessities in the island of Samar,

01:33as well as the prices of commodities that is going to Luzon and going to Mindanao.

01:40Sir, can you tell me the current setup of ilang trips po ba yung we're accommodating in a day with the Libring Sakay?

01:49With the current setup of the Libring Sakay, we are accommodating around 4 to 6 trips per day.

01:56Roughly around 81 trucks per day.

02:00So a high of 81 to 100 to allow about 64 trucks per day.

02:06So that's the number that we are shipping.

02:09And on the 15th day of that program, we already reached around 100,000 trucks that was ferrying for free.

02:18So if we just average the goods that is being carried by the trucks at 100,000 per truck,

02:26that's basically 100 million worth of supplies that was ferrying through Libring Sakay.

02:32Sir, is there a plan to augment or add more ships or adding more ships?

02:37Yes. With the visit of the president last time,

02:42and again the reiteration of the mandate to ensure a hampered flow,

02:47we have received a request from the governor of Eastern Samar.

02:51And I think this has already been put out also by PNA,

02:55that there will be a new route covering Tacloban going to Giwan Eastern Samar.

03:00And we hope to start that within the month.

03:03They say that are the short-term solutions regarding the crisis.

03:09What are your ongoing long-term solutions for that, sir?

03:13For the long-term solutions, the Department of Public Works and Highways has requested

03:18the Office of Civil Defense to allocate from the Indrim Fund an initial budget of 520 million

03:26for the immediate repair of the bridge to restore its capacity to 15 tons.

03:32That will enable the buses, the six-wheelers to cross.

03:37But definitely heavy equipment, heavy trucking will still use the Roro route.

03:44Currently, sir, the bridge, yung nakakadaan, ilan pong tons yung pwede?

03:50Currently, the bridge is restricted to 3 tons.

03:53So, yung, di ba, there's a plan to construct the second bridge?

03:57Yes.

03:58So, is there any time frame?

04:00We still haven't had the time frame, no, but it's...

04:05It's in the pipeline?

04:07Yes, it's in the pipeline.

04:09How much should be the cost of that?

04:12I think it's up to the FEMA.

04:14So, it's national government?

04:16Yes, of course.

04:17So, an yung yung construction?

04:19Not really with a specific site also.

04:22Is there a plan?

04:23Yes, sir.

04:24Let's try to stop this bridge.

04:25That's a big cycle.

04:26There's a plan.

04:28Yes, sir.

04:29Let's try to stop it.

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