THE Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has recommended the inclusion of 16 new links to the government’s flagship project, the Strong Republic Nautical Highway (SRNH) or the roll on/roll off project.
PPA general manager Alfonso Cusi said the links would also include the development of 21 additional ports that would connect the SRNH.
"It is beyond doubt that the SRNH has resulted in the lowering of inter-island transport costs and other benefits to small businessmen and farmers as well as local tourists around the country. We want to multiply these benefits by opening the nautical highway to other points," he said.
The proposed links call for the development of ports that lie along the Western Seaboard, Eastern Seaboard, MIMAROPA (Mindoro-Marinduque-Romblon-Palawan), the Southwestern Seaboard and the Northeastern Seaboard.
In the Western Seaboard, the ports to be included are Abra de ilog, Tabaco and Virac. In the Eastern Seaboard, the ports are Matnog in Sorsogon, San Isidro and Allen in Northern Samar, Liloan in Southern Leyte and Lipata in Surigao.
For the MIMAROPA link, the proposed additions are San Jose in Mindoro Occidental; Odiongan in Romblon; and Dalahican in Lucena, Quezon. In the Visayas, the ports are San Jose in Antique; Tampi and Amlan in Negros Oriental; and Palompon, Ormoc in Maasin, Leyte.
Further linking the Southwestern Seaboard are ports in Zamboanga City, Pagadian in Zamboanga del Sur, Isabela in Basilan, Jolo and Bongao. In the Northeastern Seaboard, to be added are Curimao in Ilocos Norte and Basco in Batanes.
