First-week voyage of free roll-on, roll-off (RoRo) service between Tacloban and Samar transports 241 trucks
Title: Easing the Crisis: A Free Maritime Cargo Lifeline in Eastern Visayas
In the Heart of Eastern Visayas, the Libreng Sakay Shines
A government-driven, marine logistics operation, the Libreng Sakay program, has been a beacon of hope amid the San Juanico Bridge crisis, ensuring continuous delivery of crucial goods to Tacloban City and Basey, Samar. The program, launched on June 18, 2025, has been operational for over a week, and its effects have been significant [3].
The Libreng Sakay Tackles the Supply Chain Challenges
In an interview, regional director of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Eastern Visayas, Lord Byron Torrecarion, shared that the Libreng Sakay initiative has helped overcome the setbacks caused by unexpectedly lengthy anchorage times after loading. The program has already served 215 cargo trucks and 26 fuel tankers since the launch, traversing the Tacloban-Amandayehan-Basey corridor through 16 trips [3].
Eligible Goods and Vehicles Onboard the Libreng Sakay
The Libreng Sakay targets cargo trucks and delivery vehicles that are officially transporting essential commodities like food, medicine, water, animal feed, and fuel, as well as government and humanitarian vehicles on their way to deliver relief goods or provide logistical support for disaster response operations [3].
President Marcos' Direction and Impact
Torrecarion emphasized the President's order to maximize Libreng Sakay by minimizing anchorage hours to prevent the prices of goods from escalating. The initiative is part of the government's efforts to maintain affordable essential goods [3].
The Road to a Smoother Loading and Unloading Process
The Regional Inter-Agency Coordination Cell Eastern Visayas Task Force San Juanico has reported delays due to the long hours of anchorage after loading. To address this, they plan to collaborate with the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) to streamline and optimize the loading and unloading processes [3].
Day and Night Operations
Recent developments in night navigational aids installation, completed on June 23, allow the Libreng Sakay to operate non-stop, guaranteeing continuous movement of essential goods throughout the day and night [3].
The Next Step: Expanding the Amandayehan Port
Notwithstanding the gains made so far, the operational setback of using only one RoRo ramp in Amandayehan Port in Basey is a concern. The second ramp is projected to be completed by July, increasing efficiency and reducing bottlenecks [3].
Sources:
- "Eastern Visayas under state of calamity due to San Juanico rehab". philstar.com. June 25, 2025. Accessed June 27, 2025.
- "Government launches free maritime cargo transport initiative amid San Juanico Bridge crisis in Eastern Visayas". abs-cbn.com. June 26, 2025. Accessed June 27, 2025.
- "Libreng Sakay program addresses essential goods' transport challenge in Eastern Visayas". Rappler.com. June 26, 2025. Accessed June 27, 2025.
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- The Libreng Sakay program, a government initiative operating in Tacloban City and Basey, Samar, has been actively serving various industries by providing transportation for essential goods such as food, medicine, and fuel, since its launch in June 2025.
- To further streamline the transportation of essential goods in Eastern Visayas, the regional government is working with the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) to optimize the loading and unloading processes, while also planning to expand the Amandayehan Port in Basey by completing a second RoRo ramp by July.
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