TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — The economy of Eastern Visayas experienced a sharp deceleration in 2025, expanding by a mere one percent compared to the robust 6.1 percent growth recorded in 2024. Regional officials and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) attributed the slowdown to structural logistics challenges at the San Juanico Bridge, a decline in public construction, and severe weather disturbances that battered the agriculture sector.
The region’s economy reached ₱560.71 billion in 2025, a slight increase from ₱555.23 billion the previous year, but a figure that underscores a significant loss of economic momentum.
The foremost factor in the economic slump was the restricted use of the San Juanico Bridge, the critical artery connecting Leyte and Samar to the rest of the Philippine land network.
- Weight Limits: Due to structural integrity concerns, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) imposed strict weight restrictions. At one point, only light vehicles were permitted, before the limit was gradually raised to 30 tons under controlled conditions.
- Logistics Disruption: These restrictions caused severe delays in the transport of essential goods, raw materials, and agricultural produce, driving up costs for businesses across the six-province region.
Beyond logistics, several foundational sectors of the regional economy reported negative or stagnant growth:
- Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing: A series of typhoons and climate-related disruptions led to a contraction in this sector, which remains a primary livelihood for many of the region’s 4.6 million residents.
- Public Construction: A slowdown in government-funded projects, particularly those related to flood control, further dampened growth. While officials clarified there was no evidence of “ghost projects,” technical and administrative setbacks delayed several key initiatives.
- Manufacturing: Higher energy costs and supply chain interruptions linked to the bridge restrictions resulted in a decline in regional industrial output.
Meylene Rosales, regional director of the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development, noted that Eastern Visayas’ performance reflects a broader national trend of cooling growth, though the region’s slowdown was more pronounced than most.
- Relative Performance: While Western Visayas and BARMM maintained stronger growth rates, most other Philippine regions faced similar decelerations in 2025.
- Cautious Optimism: Economic managers believe that the gradual easing of bridge restrictions and the resumption of public infrastructure projects could provide a path to recovery in 2026.
- Ongoing Risks: The current global fuel crisis—exacerbated by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East—remains a significant threat to regional logistics and production costs in the coming months.
To prevent a repeat of this economic bottleneck, there are renewed calls for the expedited construction of the proposed second San Juanico Bridge or an alternative route to ensure that Samar and Leyte remain connected even during maintenance or structural repairs of the existing landmark.