PPA to build more passenger terminals

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is eyeing the construction of more passenger terminals, and is already planning to award consultancy for three passenger terminal buildings in Cagayan de Oro, General Santos City and the Manila North Harbor.

This move follows a directive from President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to expedite the construction of passenger terminals which will complement the Strong Republic Nautical Highway project of the government.

Marina to use lane meter as basis for RORO charges

The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) said it will use the lane meter system in computing charges for vehicles using the RORO highway.

The lane meter is equivalent to one meter with width of up to three meters. Standard vehicle types will be used as guides in classifying charges.

The Minica, Forklift and the owner type jeep are under the 3-4 lane meter while vehicles such as cranes without boom, mini-van, PUJs, 4-wheeler trucks and pickups fall under the 4-5 lane meter.

Included in the above 7-8 lane meter includes 10-wheeler trucks, graders as heavy equipment on piggy back-on trailers.

Meantime, 20-foot containers, cranes with boom and 12-wheeler dump truck fall under the above 9-10 lane meter while 6-wheeler short trucks and big buses are under the above 10-11 lane meter.

PPA identifies 10 ports for major upgrade

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has identified 10 ports that will be upgraded into world-class standards by the year 2010. These include the Manila North Harbor, South Harbor, the Manila International Container Terminal, and the Ports of Batangas, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Osamiz, General Santos and Zamboanga.

According to PPA general manager Alfonso Cusi, the said ports have witnessed the concentration of trading activities, accounting for 92 percent of the total cargo traffic of base ports and nearly 80 percent of cargo traffic of government ports.

In addition, the PPA has formulated a comprehensive port modernization program that covers the upgrading of capabilities of major gateways to international standards as well as the development of ports in the outlying areas including the establishment of roro facilities.

Government is slated to launch roro website

The government is set to launch a website for the Strong Republic Nautical Highway (SRNH) to provide vital information for terminal, cargo truck and bus operators, and other users.

Development Bank of the Philippines chairman Simon Paterno said the soon-to-be-launched roro website seeks to give people faster and reliable access to information about traveling or transporting goods via roro ships.

Entrepreneurs and travelers using the SRNH can browse the web through www.gophilippines.gov.ph to make reservations and avail ticketing services online.