NEWS

By Myla Iglesias

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is set to complete the repair, rehabilitation and expansion of 12 more sea ports within second half of the year to enhance connectivity in the country.

The 12 port projects are in addition to the 200 commercial and social/tourism port projects completed from 2016 up to present by the DOTR and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).

The 12 projects are located in Leyte, Batangas, Samar, Mindoro, Marinduque and Davao del Norte.

The DOTr said the Limawasa Port in Southern Leyte covers the construction of the port area, the expansion of the passenger terminal building, improvement of wharf, and the construction of causeway.

Once completed, the port is seen to serve 1,184 passengers daily.

The expansion of Sogod Port in Southern Leyte is targeted for completion in November.

The rehabilitation of Hindang Port in Leyte and Mualbual Wharf in Zumarraga, Samar continues.

A number of Luzon seaport projects are also underway.

In Batangas, two seaport projects are set to be finished within the year. These are the Talisay Port, and the Subukin Port in the town of San Juan.

Three more seaport projects will also be completed in Occidental Mindoro by yearend.

These are Agkawayan Port, expansion of the Sablayan Port and the rehabilitation of Tayamaan Port.

Repair and rehabilitation are also ongoing for two seaport projects in Marinduque – Laylay Port and Marlangga Port. The latter is due for completion within this month.

In Mindanao, construction of the Kaputian Multi-Purpose Port in Davao del Norte is ongoing. It is also slated for completion this July.

Of the total 200 port projects completed as of end June this year, 159 are commercial port projects facilitated by the PPA, while 41 are social/tourism port projects under the DOTr Maritime Sector.

The DOTr Maritime Sector finished 11 social/tourism seaport projects nationwide in the first half of 2019 alone.

In Luzon, completed projects include the construction of Balayan Port in Batangas and Maragondon Port in Cavite.

In Eastern Visayas, a total of five seaport projects were completed. These include the extension of the Barangay Canwarak Wharf in Zumarraga in the province of Samar; the widening of causeway, construction of back-up area, sea wall, and terminal building of the Pinabacdao Port also in Samar province; and the construction of Terminal and Administration Building of Balangkayan Port in Eastern Samar.

Further boosting connectivity in Region VIII, two seaport projects were completed in Biliran last May.

These are the widening of causeway and construction of back-up area project for the Kawayan Seaport, and the construction of Higatangan Port in the municipality of Naval.

Several seaports were also rehabilitated in the Visayas, namely, Balangiga and Maydolong Ports in Eastern Samar; Merida Port in Leyte; and Baclayon Port in Bohol.

Source: Malaya