MANILA — Calling the country’s geographic divide a “permanent economic handicap,” House Minority Leader Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan is pushing for the construction of a bridge linking Allen, Northern Samar, and Matnog, Sorsogon — a mega-infrastructure project he says could finally end decades of costly transport disruptions between Luzon, Visayas,s and Mindanao.
“For too long, we have accepted stranding, delays, and economic losses as normal,” Libanan said, stressing that rough seas in the San Bernardino Strait routinely paralyze the vital nautical corridor, leaving passengers, cargo trucks, and perishable goods stuck for days.
“That is not normal. That is a failure of infrastructure,” he added.
The proposed bridge, once considered too ambitious and prohibitively expensive, is now being positioned by Libanan as a strategic national priority — one that could transform inter-island mobility the way the Maharlika Highway once did.
A CRITICAL BOTTLENECK
The Allen–Matnog route serves as a key gateway in the country’s central transport spine, linking Luzon to the Visayas and Mindanao through the Maharlika Highway network. While roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) vessels have long bridged the gap, operations grind to a halt during typhoons and severe weather conditions that are frequent in the region.
When sailings are suspended, the economic impact is immediate: stranded cargo, disrupted supply chains, rising transport costs, delayed agricultural deliveries, and mounting financial losses for traders and logistics operators.
Industry estimates suggest that prolonged shutdowns can cost millions of pesos daily in spoiled goods, idle trucks, missed contracts, and tourism setbacks.
“This is not just about convenience,” Libanan stressed. “This is about economic stability, food security, and national integration.”
FROM ISLAND FRAGMENTATION TO NATIONAL CONNECTIVITY
Libanan argues that the Philippines’ archipelagic nature — often described as a “broken picture frame” — requires bold structural solutions, not temporary fixes.
He cited the transformative impact of the Maharlika Highway, which connected major islands through a combination of roads and ferry links, accelerating trade and mobility across regions.
“But we have reached the limits of what ferries can provide,” he said. “If we are serious about building a seamless economy from Mindanao to Luzon, then we must invest in permanent connectivity.”
The proposed bridge would create an all-weather land corridor, drastically reducing dependency on sea conditions. It could ensure uninterrupted movement of agricultural products from Mindanao, manufactured goods from Luzon, and commercial traffic across the Visayas.
Libanan described the project as a “multi-generational investment” capable of serving millions of travelers annually while strengthening domestic commerce.
COSTLY — BUT NECESSARY
Critics have pointed to the potential multi-billion peso price tag as a major hurdle. But Libanan dismissed cost concerns as shortsighted.
“We should stop thinking small,” he said. “The real question is not how much it will cost to build the bridge. The real question is how much we continue to lose every year by not building it.”
He emphasized that long-term economic returns — increased trade efficiency, tourism growth, logistics savings, and regional development — could outweigh initial capital expenditures.
Infrastructure analysts note that similar large-scale bridge projects worldwide have spurred regional economic booms and unlocked new investment corridors.
A TEST OF POLITICAL WILL
For Lebanon, the proposal is more than an infrastructure pitch — it is a test of the government’s resolve to close regional gaps and modernize national transport systems.
“Every typhoon season, we see trucks lined up for kilometers. Families sleeping inside vehicles. Goods rotting in containers,” he said. “We cannot keep normalizing that.”
The Minority Leader is expected to push for feasibility studies and funding allocations, urging the administration to prioritize the project under its flagship infrastructure agenda.
“This bridge is not a luxury,” Libanan declared. “It is a necessity.”
If pursued, the Samar–Sorsogon bridge could become one of the most ambitious transport projects in Philippine history — and a defining legacy battle for a lawmaker determined to turn geography from liability into strength.
Edited
Spread the news