Davao City (16 November) -- Philippine Ports Authority Port District Office-Southern Mindanao here recently released the Notice of Award (NOA) for PhP 66.87 M worth of projects to the Zet Construction and the MRB Construction and Supply for the construction of the Roll-On Roll-Off (RoRo) Ports in Pantukan, Compostela Valley and Tagpopongan, Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte, respectively.

This development is in congruence with the directive of the President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to expand the Strong Republic Nautical Highway (SRNH) lateral links in the Davao Region-XI.

PPA engineers conduct site inspection of proposed Pantukan RoRo Port. (PPA Davao)

PGMA earlier broached the concept of establishing a RoRo system within the ASEAN during the Fifth Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area Summit (5th BIMP-EAGA Summit) in Hua Hin, Thailand on February of this year.

SRNH refers to the alliances of major and feeder RoRo capable ports linking the country's major islands Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, and vice versa with an average of four hours per stopover.

Ro-Ro projects have always placed top priority in the PPA Port System and have been expedited to be responsive to the needs of the public and in line with the central government's vision of linking the Philippine islands through the Road-RoRo Transport System (RRTS), SoMin Port District Manager Abdussabor Sawadjaan announced during a press conference with local reporters on Mindanao port developments.

RRTS embodies the mechanism of a nationwide operation of both public and privately-managed ports with PPA prescribed charges for vehicles and rolling cargoes. Its concept stemmed from the desire to bring down the cost of maritime transport by paying only the terminal fee.

In the same forum, PDM Sawadjaan, who made the announcement with the Hon. Presidential Adviser on Mindanao Affairs Secretary Atty. Jesus Dureza, also revealed PPA's plan to expand the port of Glan, Sarangani Province and to add a RoRo facility to the existing pier to boost trade, transport and tourism with Tahuna, Indonesia as part of the initiatives of the BIMP-EAGA. The Republic of Indonesia earlier committed to put up a port in Tahuna for the purpose.

The local government of Glan has an existing trade partnership with Bitung, Malaysia and its PPA developed port caters to fishing and passenger vessels to and from General Santos City and Mabila in Balut Island, Sarangani Municipality.

Tagpopongan is located at the north side of the Island Garden City of Samal in Davao del Norte Province which is facing the sea coasts of Pantukan, Compostela Valley Province. Hence, the twin Ro-Ro port developments in the two areas.

Contract price for Pantukan reached PhP 29.76 M which covers the construction of its RoRo ramp and rock causeway while Tagpopongan, which has a budget pegged at PhP 37.79 M will also include a RoRo ramp and rock causeway.

A significant RoRo infrastructure in Babak, Samal Island facing the Davao City mainland has already been completed in 2008 made possible by PPA's locally-funded engineering project worth PhP 49.95 M which also included a reclamation and expansion of its back-up area.

Port engineering work at the back side of Samal Island at present with this newly-awarded contract for the Tagpopongan development is projected to spur socio-economic exchanges as well as improve transport of local goods and passengers to neighboring towns through the RRTS.

The strategic connection of Tagpopongan to the adjacent Pantukan municipality which is located in another province of the Davao Region through the RRTS would also enable a more efficient consolidation of its distinct agricultural and industrial commodities for trading in other domestic destinations and eventually for export.

Samal Island, the nearest link between Davao City and Pantukan town, has been challenged to push for the continuous enhancement of its RoRo and road networks to activate an economic triad similar to that of Jose Abad Santos-Glan-Sarangani Cooperation Triangle (JAGS-CT).