7 seaport projects to be inaugurated in Bohol

SEVEN completed seaport projects in Bohol province in the Visayas will be inaugurated on Friday, October 29, 2021, the Department of Transportation announced on Thursday, October 28, 2021.

The seaport projects located in the Tagbilaran, Jagna, Ubay, Tapal, Talibon, Loon and Maribojoc Ports will be inaugurated by President Rodrigo Duterte, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Art Tugade and Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) General Manager Jay Daniel Santiago, the DOTr said.

In the Port of Tagbilaran, Bohol’s main gateway to the rest of the Visayas and Mindanao, an additional fastcraft berth completed last June will enable more trip frequencies for vessels, which will be needed as an increase in visitors is expected after the Tagbilaran Port’s new Passenger Terminal Building was inaugurated last April.

The Port of Jagna, which connects mainland Cebu in the Visayas and Camiguin in northern Mindanao, can now handle bigger vessels after its reinforced concrete wharf/deck was completed last July.

The same is true for the third port, the Port of Ubay, which used to be able to receive only medium-sized motorized banca, until a reinforced concrete pier completed in December 2020 allowed it to now handle medium-sized conventional and ro-ro (roll-on, roll-off) vessels.

For the Tapal Port, a back-up area and ro-ro ramp were completed in October 2020 for better management of the increasing passenger traffic to and from the Tapal Port.

The Port of Talibon was also rehabiliated to help ease the load off the Tagbilaran Port in terms of cargo operations, the DOTr said.

To this end, the rehabilitation projects in the Talibon port have included a ro-ro ramp and the establishment of a security fence and covered walkway to enhance the comfort and convenience of both passengers and traders.

For the sixth port, the Port of Loon, sea passengers will now have a more comfortable experience after the DOTr and PPA completed the construction of its Passenger Terminal Building.

For the Maribojoc port, a rehabilitation and expansion project completed last June not only restored it from its rundown state following the destructive 2013 Bohol earthquake but also improved it. (CTL)