President Rodrigo Duterte and Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade will lead the simultaneous inauguration of seven seaport projects in Bohol on Friday.

 

The seven seaport projects were completed in Tagbilaran, Jagna, Ubay, Tapal, Talibon, Loon, and Maribojoc Ports.

 

The inauguration wraps up the two-day visit of team DOTr in the Visayas region following the inauguration of the completed Corporate Building at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport on Thursday.

 

Philippine Ports Authority General Manager Jay Daniel Santiago is also set to join the two officials.

 

In the Port of Tagbilaran, which serves as Bohol’s main gateway to the rest of the Visayas and Mindanao, the construction of additional fastcraft berth has been completed in June 2021. 

 

According to the DOTr, the project is expected to facilitate the movement of vessels and decongest traffic at its existing berths, resulting in an increase of trip frequencies. 

 

The Port of Jagna, which connects mainland Cebu and Camiguin, can now handle bigger vessels with the completion of its reinforced concrete wharf or deck in July 2021.

 

The third port, which is the Port of Ubay, can only accommodate medium-sized motorized banca in the past. Now, the Port of Ubay can handle medium-sized conventional and Ro-Ro vessels.

 

With the increasing passenger traffic to and from the Tapal Port over the years, the DOTr and PPA pushed for the construction of the port’s back-up area and Ro-Ro ramp. 

 

Several rehabilitation projects have likewise been carried out in Port of Talibon, including a Ro-Ro ramp, establishment of covered walkway, and security fence to further provide comfort and convenience to traders and passengers. 

 

The sixth port – Port of Loon – now offers more convenience and comfort to sea passengers as the DOTr and PPA were able to complete the construction of its Passenger Terminal Building.

 

The last of the seven port projects is the Maribojoc Rehabilitation and Expansion Project. From its dilapidated state after the destruction of the Bohol quake in 2013, the improvement of the port was finally completed in June 2021.