All set for multi-million peso rehab of Iloilo river port

THE Iloilo City port is all set for a multi-million peso rehabilitation and upgrading to accommodate ferry boats, fast crafts and roll-on, roll-off (RoRo) vessels, said Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog.

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) reported the updates on the processing of public land reservation in Barangay Progreso, Lapuz district as the future home of the PPA, RoRo and fast craft terminals.

Three major PPA projects will be developed in the area. These include the construction of berthing facility costing some P126 million, including fendering and mooring, platform and RoRo ramp; construction of P17.3 million passenger terminal building with a 1,000 square meters area; and site development of the river wharf, including parking areas, perimeter fence, paving blocks and gate worth about P20 million.

Mabilog said he is also requesting the PPA to develop a 5,000-square-meter public park and plaza of the Lapuz district so that several amenities such as a police station, health center and other services will be put up by the City Government.

He reported, meanwhile, that the Parola property, including the defunct Rotary Park area given to the City Government through a Presidential Proclamation, will now be developed and subdivided among the city projects: 5,000 square meters for the Philippine Coast Guard to house its new building, and 1,000 square meters reserved for the provincial environment office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

A private firm is answering the call for a public private partnership (PPP) with the city in building up a modern and state-of-the-art ferry terminal at the old Rotary Park area in Parola, Iloilo City.

Mabilog said a memorandum of agreement was recently signed between the city and Double Dragon Properties represented by Ferdinand Sia for the PPP construction of a ferry terminal building and a commercial building costing some P135 million at the site.

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is also readying its bidding for the construction of the ferry berthing facility as its component project costing some P125 million.

The DOTC project will improve and upgrade the berthing area for pump boats going to Guimaras Island, including the construction of a public park in the area.