Posted on June 11, 2025
The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has committed more than ₱400 million ($7.1 million) from its corporate operating budget to expand and modernise key ports in Samar island, identifying them as critical alternate transport routes in response to ongoing restrictions on the San Juanico Bridge.
The initiative follows the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) recent imposition of a three-ton weight limit on the San Juanico Bridge. In response, the PPA conducted an inspection and identified the municipal port of Amandayehan in Basey, Samar as a strategic alternative due to its proximity to Tacloban Port.
According to the PPA, the port will be developed to accommodate roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) and landing craft tank (LCT) vessels which was previously beyond its original capacity.
To improve navigational safety, PPA plans to install 14 navigation buoys at Amandayehan Port, valued at ₱100 million. An additional ₱100 million has been earmarked for dredging, and ₱200 million for expanding the port’s physical footprint. They added that these upgrades are intended to enable the port to handle higher cargo volumes and vessel traffic.
PPA said it is finalising the turnover of the Amandayehan Port from the local government before the end of 2025 to support the expansion plans.
