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TACLOBAN CITY — The load limit restriction at San Juanico Bridge may affect the supply of rice in Samar island, an official of the Grains Retailer Confederation (Grecon) told The Manila Times on Monday.
Frederick Dy, Grecon regional director, said that there could be a shortage in the supply in the provinces of Samar and Eastern Samar due to the three-ton load limit imposed on vehicles at the bridge that connects Samar and Leyte.
Dy said the two Samar provinces get their supply of rice from Tacloban City in Leyte but rice dealers may find it hard to transport their product to Samar island because of the restriction.
Dy said the rice trading sector was not consulted when the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Eastern Visayas imposed on the load limit last week.
Dy said rice suppliers are planning to increase the price of rice to P50.00 per sack to recover the cost of the delivery to Samar Island.
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He said Samar Island can get its rice supply from Legazpi City in the Bicol Region.
Authorities are considering the use of barge to transport rice and other goods from Tacloban City to Basey town in Samar.
Cargo trucks are also advised to utilize roll-on/roll-off (RORO) vessels to maintain connectivity through the Tacloban, Ormoc, Hilongos, Maasin, Palompon, Calubian and Villaba ports in Leyte, Naval port in Biliran; and Calbayog and Catbalogan ports in Samar.
The San Juanico Brisge, which opened in 1973, will undergo a two-year rehabilitation to prevent further damage.
