TACLOBAN CITY – The Tacloban City Council has declared the city to be under a state of emergency, Thursday (May 29), following the limited access to San Juanico Bridge that connects the provinces of Samar and Leyte.
According to the City Information Office, said move aims to mobilize resources quickly and ensure public safety, especially that the bridge serves as a critical lifeline for goods, medical supplies, and travel between the provinces, adding, “Under Section 16 of the Local Government Code and relevant national disaster protocols, a state of emergency can be declared when public safety is at risk or when immediate action is needed to respond to a crisis or disruption of essential services.”
It also said that with restricted access to San Juanico, the city is facing serious concerns related to economic flow, emergency response, and supply chain delays. “This declaration allows the local government to act faster, allocate emergency funds, and coordinate with national agencies for support,” said the City Information Office.
On Wednesday, Governor Sharee Ann Tan appealed to Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez to declare a state of calamity or emergency. “Though this is not much of a concern in Tacloban, maybe few of the businesses have declined, but for Samar side, it is not just the businesses that are affected, even the essential needs are affected,” she said.
“So I am asking Mayor Alfred to be humane enough, to declare a state of calamity, a state of emergency in Tacloban, to help the province of Samar and or somehow the entire island of Samar,” she added. (By Marie Tonette Marticio/EV Mail May 26-June 1, 2025 issue)
