New daily ferry service to directly link Mindanao, Luzon, bypassing San Juanico bridge
By Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte (PIA) — A new daily ferry service offering a direct connection between Surigao City in Mindanao and Bulan, Sorsogon in Luzon is set to launch soon, providing a vital alternative for logistical companies and travelers facing ongoing load limitations on the San Juanico Bridge.
Seen Sam Shipping Inc., a Cebu-based company, will deploy two large capacity landing craft transport (LCT) vessels to offer daily roll-on, roll-off (RORO) services. This initiative aims to alleviate the logistical bottlenecks caused by the temporary restrictions on the San Juanico Bridge, which connects Samar and Leyte.
The new route will operate between the Lipata Ferry Terminal in Surigao City and Bulan, Sorsogon. The Port Management Office (PMO) of Surigao has already issued the necessary certificate of berth allocation for the said shipping company’s vessels, a primary requirement from the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA). Given the urgent need for this direct service to ease current logistical challenges, MARINA is expected to grant the necessary clearance promptly.
According to the company’s initial schedule, LCT 1018 will depart Bulan for Lipata at 5:00 AM for its first trip, while LCT 1070 will simultaneously depart Lipata for Bulan at the same time. For businesses and freight operators, the new route offers greater flexibility and reliability in inter-island logistics operations.
With an estimated sailing time of 21 hours, this direct ferry service is anticipated to be a “game-changer,” offering a more efficient and direct route for goods and passengers traveling between Mindanao and Luzon, bypassing the need to traverse the San Juanico Bridge.
The new service comes as a direct response to ongoing challenges with the San Juanico Bridge, which connects Samar and Leyte provinces. Load limitations imposed on the bridge have created challenges for cargo transport between the country’s major island groups, prompting logistic companies to seek alternative routes.
The direct Surigao-Sorsogon connection is expected to streamline cargo movement and reduce delays that have impacted supply chains across the archipelago. (SDR, PIA Surigao del Norte with a report from PPA-PMO Surigao)
