MANILA, Philippines — The country’s first roll-on roll-off barge terminal project is set to be launched this month, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said.
“As of March 2018, the construction of the Cavite Gateway Terminal (CGT) is now 85 percent complete. With its scheduled inauguration this month, this Build Build Build project will be the first barge terminal in the Philippines,” the DOTr said.
The project, which is being developed by port operator International Container Terminal Services Inc.(ICTSI), is being built within a six-hectare property in Tanza, Cavite.
Cavite was chosen for the location of the project due to the province’s high economic density.
Apart from the Cavite Export Processing Zone which houses over 400 actively operating companies, there are other planned developments within the province.
Earlier, ICTSI said the project would be developed in phases.
The first phase of the project, which costs $30 million, is expected to support an annual throughput of 115,000 twenty-foot equivalent units, equivalent to 140,000 fewer truck trips on roads per year.
The terminal will be integrated with other major Luzon port facilities for a more cost-effective and time-bound access to the Cavite market.
When completed, the CGT will allow trans-shipment of cargo from the Manila port to Cavite via barges, a move seen to reduce congestion through fewer number of trucks on roads.
“As a result, road traffic will be reduced by approximately two kilometers of trucks once the terminal starts operations,” the DOTr said.
ICTSI which was established in 1988, is engaged in the business of port development, management and operations.