8 new roll-on-roll-off routes opened

MANILA, Philippines — Eight new roll-on-roll-off (RORO) routes have been opened.

The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) announced the new routes yesterday at the oversight hearing of the House committee on transportation to check on the status of the RORO network.

These are Daanbantayan, Cebu to Calbayog City, Samar; Tabuelan, Cebu to Ajuy, Iloilo; Laoay, Bohol to Cagayan de Oro City; San Juan, Batangas to Calapan, Oriental Mindoro; Iloilo City to Cuyo, Palawan; San Pascual, Burias Island, Masbate to Pasacao, Camarines Sur; San Andres, Quezon to Pasacao, Camarines Sur, and Lucena, Quezon to San Fernando, Cebu.

Since these are missionary routes, Marina said shipping operators would be given a five-year exclusivity ”to protect their investment” and a 50-percent discount on processing fees for permits, licenses and certificates.

The eight new routes are in addition to 12 routes opened in January.

These are Basco, Batanes to Currimao, Ilocos Norte; San Juan, Batangas to Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro; Real, Quezon to Polillo island in Quezon; Lucena, Quezon to Buyabod, Marinduque; Pantao, Albay to San Pascual, Masbate; Calbayog City, Samar to  Cataingan, Masbate; Cuyo, Palawan to San Jose de Buenavista, Antique; Oslob, Cebu to Dumaguete, Negros Oriental; Punta Engano, Mactan Island, Cebu to  Jetafe, Bohol; Poro, Camotes, Cebu to Isabel, Leyte; Lipata, Surigao del Norte to Dapa, Surigao del Norte and Siaton, Negros Oriental to Dipolog City.

The RORO network was started by Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo when she was president.