MANILA, Nov. 14 (PNA) — Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya on Thursday said the government has taken measures to decongest vehicular pile-up in Matnog Port in Sorsogon, the gateway to the Eastern Visayas region.
Reports reaching Abaya said Matnog Port has been congested with cargo trucks and other vehicles which carry relief goods going to Samar and Leyte provinces since there are not enough sea trips to ferry them.
For one, Abaya said vessels from Matnog Port which drop relief goods in the Port of Allen in Northern Samar were already instructed to immediately go back to Sorsogon even if they do not have back haul.
This way, relief goods will be quickly loaded and the cargo trucks carrying the relief goods can leave Matnog Port once they have unloaded the goods which will eventually decongest traffic.
“Minandate na namin na gawing frequent yung biyahe at pinagsabihan yung barko na huwag nang maghintay sa Allen ng back haul, ito yung kargamento niya pabalik,” Abaya said.
Abaya aid that another step the government instituted was to provide additional “roll-on, roll-off” (RORO) vessels heading to Samar and Leyte which will ferry relief goods.
He said the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) has allowed these ROROs to proceed with the trips to Sorsogon going to the Eastern Visayas region.
He said another measure considered was to open a new vessel route to fast track the delivery of goods.
“Pinag-iisipan namin ang pagbukas ng panibagong rota. May isang barko na magse-service mula Batangas papuntang San Isidro (Leyte),” he added.
Abaya said local officials have been helping monitor the situation in Matnog Port and immediately sends them reports once vehicle congestion occurs so they can act immediately.(PNA)
FFC/RTA