San Juan: The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) is stepping up its response to individuals affected by the load limit along the San Juanico Bridge. On the fifth day of Blue Alert activation on Tuesday, the RDRRMC, through the Inter-agency Task Force San Juanico, continues its concerted efforts to ensure the safety and welfare of the public amid the structural concerns of the San Juanico Bridge, RDRRMC chair Lord Byron Torrecarion said.
According to Philippines News Agency, a centralized public assistance desk and command post has been temporarily set up by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), while the establishment of the mega tent is currently underway. OCD has also extended public assistance by providing bottled water to waiting passengers and stranded truckers near Amandayehan Port, Basey, Samar.
Over a hundred truckers are stranded near Amandayehan Port, anticipating the opening of the port for roll-on, roll-off vessels operations. Continuous 24/7 security patrols and traffic management efforts remain in place across both ends of the bridge. Pedestrian crossing has been suspended, with coasters and light vehicles ferrying passengers to ensure safe transit, Torrecarion said.
Heavy vehicles are strictly rerouted through designated checkpoints in Leyte and Samar to reduce stress on the structure, while temporary passenger terminals operate in Tacloban City and Sta. Rita, Samar, to facilitate movement. Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will establish a mobile kitchen to feed stranded passengers and truckers.
DSWD Eastern Visayas Regional Director Grace Subong stated that this is the first time they will offer said facility to cater to the needs of the affected individuals. Although family food packs are available for distribution, providing hot meals to the stranded individuals is deemed more appropriate in this crisis, she told reporters.
Since May 16, the DSWD has provided about 211 boxes of family food packs to stranded individuals and has facilitated profiling and assessment of affected travelers through the Family Access Card in Emergencies and Disasters to identify needs and determine assistance.
