Manila, June 9 -- Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vince Dizon is pushing for a 24-hour barge operation between the ports of Basey, Samar, and Tacloban to alleviate persistent long queues of cargo trucks.

On Sunday, Dizon expressed concern over the significant backlog of trucks on both sides, just a day after Amandayehan Port in Basey commenced barge services. Currently, only Santa Clara Shipping Corp. (operations began June 7) and ALD Sea Transport (first voyage June 8) serve the route on a limited 12-hour schedule, from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m.

To enable round-the-clock operations and effectively double trips, the DOTr chief ordered the Philippine Coast Guard to install navigational buoys along the San Juanico Strait. These buoys...