Negros, Catanduanes ports due for upgrade

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is spending P472 million to upgrade the ports in Negros Occidental and Catanduanes to cope with growing passenger and cargo volume.

The ports regulator has issued its invitations to bid for the P351.93-million San Carlos port improvement project in Negros Occidental and P120.07-million Virac port rehabilitation project in Catanduanes.

Interested contractors have until Dec. 19 to submit their bids.

The winning bidder will be tasked with the excavation works, construction of the port operational area and improvement of roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) ramps.

Along with this, the PPA has started engaging consultancy services for the feasibility studies of 14 big-ticket port projects, which are targeted to be completed by 2028.

These include Port Capinpin Expansion project in Orion, Bataan; Currimao Port Expansion and Restoration project; Tapal Port Expansion in Ubay, Bohol; New Port Development projects in Lavezares, Northern Samar; and upgrading of general cargo berth in Davao City Port of Sasa; and expansion of Plaridel Port in Misamis Oriental.

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The government agency is also in the process of developing a master plan to establish 10 seaports across the country to improve connectivity and supply chain.

These terminals are located in Davila, Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte; Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro; Taytay, Palawan; Buenavista, Guimaras; San Carlos, Negros Occidental; Dumaguete, Negros Oriental; Lazi, Siquijor; Catbalogan, Samar; Zamboanga, Zamboanga del Sur; and Cagdianao, Dinagat Islands.

PPA inaugurated several projects last year, including the expansion of passenger capacity at Port of Coron in Palawan and Port of Calapan in Oriental Mindoro. It also intends to develop more cruise terminals in Palawan, Siargao, Camiguin, Boracay and Puerto Galera.