Investor to put up ferry terminal in Iloilo

A PRIVATE investor is interested in putting up a modern multi-million peso ferry terminal at the formerly known Rotary Park at Fort San Pedro in Iloilo City.

Dubbed as the Guimaras-Iloilo Ferry Terminal (Gift) project, it will be constructed through a public-private partnership (PPP) scheme with the City Government to modernize the travel from Iloilo City to Guimaras ports in Jordan and Buenavista.

The Gift project is also expected to showcase modern and comfortable sea travel with a new passenger terminal building and other port amenities to be constructed in the city-owned lot carrying a Presidential Declaration at the Fort San Pedro area.

Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said he had a meeting with Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas, and the Cabinet official assured P200 million for a Gift component consisting of a park beside the terminal.

Bidding for the project is slated before the end of December this year, while construction of the new port terminal through the PPP is being eyed by Double Dragon Corp. of Ilonggo businessman Edgar Sia and Jolibee partners.

The Gift project was conceived more than five years ago as an important infrastructure to serve commuters between Iloilo City and the island province of Guimaras. A ferry boat terminal will be constructed along with port modernization in Jordan and Buenavista wharves.