State-run Philippine Ports Authority said Wednesday it plans to expand the operations of roll-on roll-off, or RoRo, to improve inter-island connectivity and build a port facility to serve foreign cruise ships.
“The immediate plan is to address the concerns of our public for their transportation. We will improve the RoRo facilities. In fact from the side of the Transportation Department, they are trying to encourage additional investments in RoRo operation,” PPA general manager Jay Daniel Santiago told reporters in a briefing.
Santiago also said that the port authority was expanding the RoRo ports operation in areas where there was a huge traffic volume.
In 2003, the government issued a policy to promote Ro-Ro, a system designed to carry rolling stock cargo that does not require cranes for loading or unloading.
The Strong Republic Nautical Highway is one of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s priority programs to ensure fast and economical movement of goods and people, and to boost domestic tourism and trade.
The Asian Development Bank earlier said the RoRo system had cut the cost of the transport system as well as the travel time in the Philippines.
Santiago also said that PPA planned to build a world-class cruise ship facilities in key areas, probably in Metro Manila and Davao under the agency’s longer-term plan.
Ports considered as major cruise arteries are Bohol, Puerto Princesa, Caticlan and Currimao.
The new PPA general manager added the marching order of President Rodrigo Duterte and Transportation Secretary Arthur Secretary Tugade was to make sure there would be no major accidents under its watch.
“What I would like to concentrate within the first 100 days is to make sure that we follow all safety protocols on our passenger terminals. We will audit all our safety protocols and safety measures to address security threat in our port facilities particularly on the passenger terminal,” Santiago said.
“We want to make sure that they are safe and comfortable and they have the amenities that they need and they deserve such as improvements of toilet facilities and free Wifi access,” he added.
The port authority earlier allotted P6 billion this year to finance locally-funded projects, such as the upgrade and rehabilitation of ports in Iloilo, General Santos, Cagayan de Oro and Zamboanga.
PPA said it had completed nine infrastructure projects worth P313.03 million as of end-March.