RoRo ports up for construction in Southern Leyte

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Jan. 9 (PNA) - Two roll-on, roll-off (RoRo) ports will be constructed in the towns of Padre Burgos and San Francisco, with a budget of Php4 million each.

Southern Leyte lone district Rep. Damian Mercado said the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) will implement the project through funds from the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC).

He said the two projects are currently in the bidding process but construction is targeted to start in February 2016.

He disclosed that when the port projects are nearing completion a memorandum of agreement (MOA) would be signed between the PPA management and the concerned local government units (LGUs).

“Turnover ceremonies shall be conducted for the two projects along with the concerned local government that will supervise and handle its operations,” he said.

The lawmaker pointed out that the agreed share of profits, based on the MOA provisions, is 10 percent for the PPA and 90 percent for the LGUs.

RoRo is an inter-island system of transportation that ferries not just people but also vehicles.

It is the government’s key development strategy to reduce the cost of inter-island transportation, and support the agri-fisheries modernization and food security programs of the country. (PNA)
JSV/SQM/Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.