The government’s response to the San Juanico Bridge weight restrictions sailed forward, according to an Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Eastern Visayas report. 

The Regional Inter-Agency Coordination Cell (RIACC) 8 Task Force San Juanico, led by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Eastern Visayas, has launched officially the "Libreng Sakay Program" for essential and perishable goods.

In a brief ceremony held at the Philippine Ports Authority Compound in Tacloban City, Leyte on June 18, 2025,  the program’s maiden voyage was symbolized by the blast of the vessel’s horn, marking the start of regular free Roll-on/Roll-off (RORO) transport operations via the Tacloban–Amandayehan–Tacloban route.

Amandayehan Port is in Basey town, Province of Samar. 

“This initiative is being carried out under the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and with the guidance of Civil Defense Administrator, Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno, as part of efforts to ensure the uninterrupted movement of goods across affected areas of Eastern Visayas,” the OCD 8 report said. 

“The launch was spearheaded by member agencies of RIACC8, reflecting a strong and unified whole-of-government approach to address the supply chain constraints resulting from the enforced bridge weight limits,” it added.

Further, OCD 8 said that to operationalize the program, it has chartered a Landing Craft Tank (LCT) to provide maritime cargo transport, offering free passage to suppliers of essential and perishable goods to sustain the supply chain of Eastern Visayas. 

“The program is expected to significantly ease logistical bottlenecks affecting key commodities in the region,” OCD 8 further said.

The Libreng Sakay Program is officially operational as of June 18, 2025, and will continue to run in coordination with concerned agencies, local government units, and port authorities.

OCD 8 also mentioned that the maiden voyage of the Libreng Sakay program departed from Tacloban City and transported safely 14 ten-wheel trucks, two six-wheel forward trucks, and two six-wheel elf trucks.

All trucks carried vital supplies bound for Amandayehan Port.

“Goods include fresh produce, rice, fish and other commodities critical to maintaining food security and commercial activity in affected areas,” OCD 8 added.