The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has clarified the name of the country’s central roll-on/roll-off route and updated the list of ports covered by the ro-ro loop.
PPA general manager Atty. Jay Daniel Santiago signed Memorandum Circular No. 07-2017 to clear confusion among port users, stakeholders, local government units, and other government agencies about the name of the route by having a single point of reference.
The circular, issued in compliance with a directive from its mother agency, Department of Transportation (DOTr), also identifies the ports the ro-ro lane encompasses.
The ro-ro route has been called either “Central RoRo Route” or“Central Spine RoRo Route” by the PPA and DOTr.
To avoid confusion, Santiago in the circular directs all responsibility centers to adopt the name “Central Spine RoRo Route”and to include its new linkages: Batangas, Calapan and Roxas (Mindoro), Caticlan (Aklan), Dumangas (Iloilo), Bredco (Bacolod), San Carlos (Negros Occidental), Toledo (Cebu), San Fernando/Naga (Cebu), Tubigon (Bohol), Jagna (Bohol), Balbagon and Benoni (Camiguin), and Balingoan (Misamis Oriental).
PPA earlier said it is currently revisiting the country’s ro-ro system to ensure it continues to serve the needs of the trade and tourism sectors.
Modernizing and expanding the system is one of the top priorities identified by the current administration to maintain inter-island connectivity. PPA said the government continues to encourage additional private sector investments in ro-ro operations, particularly in areas of huge traffic volume.
In 2003, the government issued a policy to promote ro-ro, a system designed to carry rolling stock cargo and eliminate the use of cranes in loading and unloading cargoes.
The ro-ro system, or Strong Republic Nautical Highway, was one of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s priority programs to ensure fast and economical movement of goods and people, and to boost domestic tourism and trade.
Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
