The Department of Transportation (DOTr) expects to spend about P1.4 billion to build and expand 14 roll-on, roll-off (Ro-Ro) ports as it seeks to make it easier and cheaper for goods and people to move around the country. Julius Yano, DOTr assistant secretary for maritime, said in an event in Pasay City on Thursday that they were looking for consultants to conduct feasibility studies for the port projects.
He said the Ro-Ro port projects—which will be located in northern and eastern Luzon, Central Visayas and Mindanao—would cost P100 million each.
Crucial logistics
“The DOTr maritime sector is seriously focusing on making maritime services more reliable and responsive to the needs of the riding public and stakeholders,” Yano said during the event hosted by Italian Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines.
“The Philippine government recognizes the importance of transport logistics industries and has taken measures to support the economy,” he added.
The Ro-Ro projects include San Vicente Roro Port, Maconacon Port and Palanan Port in northern Luzon; Dilasag Port, Baler Port, Infanta Port and Catanauan Port in eastern Luzon; Cadiz Port, Ajuy Port and San Fernando Port in Central Visayas; Lupon Roro Port and Sta. Ana Roro Port in Mindanao.
Arroyo plans
The administration of then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo lined up a P15-billion Ro-Ro project in 2003, which was aimed at building 72 ports across the country.
It forms part of the 919-kilometer Strong Republic Nautical Highway that seeks to link the major islands via an integrated network of highway and ferry routes.
Arroyo’s flagship project, however, was dealt a major blow when her successor, President Benigno Aquino III, canceled 66 of the 72 projects due to alleged corruption issues.
Recently, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) said they were eyeing to complete 19 more seaport projects this year. These include construction and rehabilitation of backup areas, breakwaters and Ro-Ro ramps.
The general cargo berth upgrade at the Port of Sasa in Davao City is among the projects. It has a price tag of P902 million, which is the most expensive undertaking in the roster.
Following this are the P693-million improvement of Port of Catagbacan in Bohol and the country’s first dedicated cruise ship terminal Port at Jubang in Surigao del Norte with a project cost of P620 million.
Global standards
“We remain optimistic that we are continuously evolving to be at par with countries observing the highest level of port standards around the world. We already made it as one of the strongest ports in Southeast Asia as of 2023,” PPA General Manager Jay Santiago said.
“Here in PPA, we continue to participate in economic globalization by advancing infrastructure development through building high quality ports,” he added.
In March, the PPA inaugurated the P267-million terminal at the Port of Coron, which handles Coron-Manila trips five times a week. The terminal stands on a 5,000-square-meter backup area.
Last year, passenger traffic grew by 156 percent to 59.07 million from 23.08 million in 2021.
The port regulator expects passenger traffic to grow this year by as much as 25 percent, especially with the return of cruise ships.