San Fernando port to be upgraded into RoRo port, congressman says

A SEAPORT in San Fernando, Cebu will be developed into a RoRo (roll-on roll-off) port, said Cebu’s First District Rep. Gerald Anthony Gullas.

He said that P358 million has been allocated for the development of the San Fernando seaport in Barangay South Poblacion. The fund will be taken from the 2017 General Appropriations Act (GAA), which has been approved by the Congress.

Gullas said that the seaport will be part of a new nautical highway route, directly connecting Batangas in Luzon and Misamis Oriental in Mindanao via Mindoro Oriental, Aklan, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Bohol, Camiguin and Cebu.

He said that he is counting on the upgrade of San Fernando port as a nautical highway hub, which is seen to boost economic activity as well as livelihood opportunities, particularly for lowincome families.

Gullas, who is the House deputy majority leader, said that the port development project will be implemented by the Cebu Port Authority (CPA), an attached agency of the Department of Transportation.

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

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

The new nautical highway, which is about 919 kilometers, is a network of roads and port terminals developed by the National Government to speed up countrywide inter-island transfer of motor vehicles, passengers and goods using RoRo boats.

Through the nautical highway, it would be more efficient and easier for passenger bus companies and logistics providers to move people and products.

“The new route is expected to cut in a big way travel time by land and sea from Southern Luzon to Northern Mindanao,” said Gullas.