San Fernando port to open for roro ferries

CEBU, Philippines - Passenger bus companies and logistics providers will soon be able to efficiently move people and products via San Fernando Port in Barangay South Poblacion as the port is being groomed to receive and dispatch roll-on/roll-off (roro) ferry services, said Cebu first district Representative Gerald Anthony Gullas.

This after the seaport was assessed and considered fit for the new 919-kilometer nautical highway direct route from Luzon to Mindanao for roro operations.

The route directly connects Batangas in Luzon with Misamis Oriental in Mindanao via Mindoro Oriental, Aklan, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Cebu, Bohol and Camiguin, according to Gullas.

He added that San Fernando Port is getting P358 million in fresh funding to complete the central backbone of roro ferry services.

The budget was included in the 2017 General Appropriations Act that has been approved by the House of Representatives.

The project aims to improve livelihood in San Fernando and boost its economic development.

The port is part of the development project that will be handled by the Cebu Port Authority and the Department of Transportation.

The new nautical highway will pass by ports in the City of Batangas; Calapan City and the Municipality of Roxas in Oriental Mindoro; the Municipality of Malay in Aklan; the Municipality of Dumangas in Iloilo; Bacolod City and San Carlos City in Negros Occidental; then through ports in Toledo City and San Fernando in Cebu.

From San Fernando, the maritime highway will go through piers in the municipalities of Tubigon and Jagna in Bohol; the municipalities of Mambajao and Mahinog in Camiguin; and then finally stop at harbors in the Municipality of Balingoan and Cagayan de Oro City in Misamis Oriental.

Rep. Gullas added that the new route is expected to greatly cut down the travel time by land and sea from Southern Luzon to Northern Mindanao. (FREEMAN)