Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Friday commended the Maritime Industry Authority for the establishment of eight Roll On-Roll Off terminals on missionary routes.
Arroyo, as president from 2001 to 2010, initiated the creation of a nautical highway to speed up transportation of goods that resulted in the decrease of the price of certain commodities in urban centers.
In addition, Arroyo’s nautical highway opened up new markets for products that were traditionally marketed certain regions or in certain localities.
Arroyo said the openining of terminals by the MARINA would result in greater connectivity and strengthen economic interactions of the various islands of the archipelago.
“I am glad that the MARINA is working towards supporting the growth of trade and greater connectivity in the country. These new missionary routes will increase the efficiency of transportation and shipping which will ultimately spur growth in the regions,” Arroyo said.
The MARINA made the announcement during the Oversight Committee on Transportation hearing spearheaded by Arroyo to check on the status of the RORO system, a project she started when she was president.
MARINA OIC Vice Admiral Narciso Vingson Jr. presented the new routes at the oversight meeting conducted in Hilongos, Leyte earlier this week.
The new eight RO-RO missionary routes were the following: Daanbantayan, Cebu to Calbayog City, Samar; Tabuelan, Cebu to Ajuy, Iloilo; Laoay, Bohol to Cagayan de Oro; San Juan, Batangas to Calapan, Oriental Mindoro; Iloilo City to Cuyo, Palawan; San Pascual, Burias Island, Masbate to Pasacao, Camarines Sur; San Andres, Quezon to Pasacao, Camarines Sur; Lucena, Quezon to San Fernando, Cebu.
Vingson that that being missionary routes, the proponent shipping operator will enjoy a five-year route exclusivity or protection of investment. On top of this, the operator will be granted a 50 percent discount on the regular fees to process all applications and renewal of ship documents, licenses, certificates, and permits.
The establishment of the new routes, which were proposed by shipping operators, is done in support of the Road Roll-on/Roll-off Terminal System as well as the priority program relating to the upgrading of domestic shipping. This is further in line with the development of the nautical highway under the 10-year maritime industry development plan.
While the acquisition of a proponent shipping operator’s Certificates of Public Convenience is being processed, the MARINA will issue a letter approval to give the operator four months to start vessel operation on its proposed route.
The eight new industry-proposed missionary routes are in addition to the 19 missionary routes opened in January 2019.
By February 2019, interest to ply the unserved routes flooded in as shipping operators submitted applications to serve seven of the 19 routes.
The remaining 12 missionary routes that have been opened for prospective shipping operators include the following: Basco, Batanes—Currimao, Ilocos Norte; San Juan, Batangas—Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro; Real, Quezon—Polillo Island, Quezon; Lucena, Quezon—Buyabod, Marinduque; Pantao, Albay—San Pascual, Masbate; Calbayog City, Samar—Cataingan, Masbate; Cuyo, Palawan—San Jose de Buenavista, Antique; Oslob, Cebu—Dumaguete, Negros Oriental; Punta Engano, Mactan Island, Cebu—Jetafe, Bohol; Poro, Camotes, Cebu—Isabel, Leyte; Lipata, Surigao del Norte—Dapa, Surigao del Norte; and Siaton, Negros Oriental—Dipolog City
The MARINA called on shipping operators to propose new RO-RO routes to expand the existing list.