Malacañang eyes ro-ro port in southern Cebu

Updated March 22, 2009 12:00 AM

CEBU, Philippines - The national government is eyeing either the town of Samboan or Santander in Cebu to be the host of a roll-on/roll-off port as part of the Strong Republic Nautical Highway program, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde revealed yesterday.

The Cebuano Cabinet member, who was in town yesterday for the inauguration of the Presidential Security Group headquarters at the Malacañang sa Sugbo, said disclosed President Gloria Arroyo wanted to put up a ro-ro port in southern Cebu after the construction of the same port in Daanbantayan kicked off two years ago.

Remonde explained both Samboan and Santander already have their own existing ports and the President wanted either of these ports to expand and will become one of the major components of the nautical highway.

The ro-ro port in Daanbantayan will serve as a gateway to Naval in Biliran and Masbate in the Bicol provinces.

Based on the work plan of the Department of Transportation and Communication for the SRNH for this year until the end of the President’s term in 2010, at least 15 ro-ro port projects are lined up for development, upgrading or rehabilitation.

These include the five ports in Cebu that are found in Daanbantayan, Toledo City, Tabuelan, Bogo City and Punta Engaño in Lapu-Lapu City.

The proposed ro-ro port in the southern part of the province will become the sixth port in Cebu, which according to Remonde, is expected to be completed in 2010 or before the term of Arroyo ends.

The other nine ports will be put up in Caticlan, Aklan; Dumangas, Iloilo; San Antonio, Sorsogon; Esperanza, Masbate; Naval, Biliran; Getafe, Bohol; Balud, Masbate; Taytay, Palawan; Ajuy, Iloilo and Ubay in Bohol.

The SRNH is an integrated set of highway segments and vehicular ferry routes which, considered in combination with other road and ferry routes not formally part of the SRNH, forms the backbone of a nationwide vehicle-accessible transport system. It is one of Arroyo administration’s major legacy projects.

This system reduces the usual travel time by 17 hours to the different key cities, enhances the accessibility of the prime tourist destinations, and minimizes the handling expenses of goods all over the country.

The 919-kilometer SRNH, which is one of the President’s priority programs to bring down the cost of inter-island shipment of goods and fare rate, and boost domestic tourism, was opened to the public on April 12, 2003. —Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/WAB (THE FREEMAN)