Sugar growers call for gov’t intervention to arrest sliding prices

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is set to work on P115-million worth of port projects in Davao Occidental as it aims to improve mobility of both goods and passengers in the countryside.

The DOTr and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Davao Occidental District Engineering Office recently signed a memorandum of agreement for six port projects in the province.According to the agreement, the DOTr will allot P20 million each to five projects and P15 million in one port project.

The projects are situated in Manila, Tubalan, Balut Island, Balangonan, Poblacion and Sta. Maria.

The Philippine Port Authorities said it was set to complete additional 19 seaport projects this year, which include construction and rehabilitation of back-up areas, breakwaters and roll-on, roll-off (Ro-Ro) ramps.

The general cargo berth upgrade at the Port of Sasa in Davao City is among the projects. It has a price tag of P902 million, which is the most expensive undertaking in the roster.

Apart from these, the DOTr is set on building and expanding 14 Ro-Ro ports across the country.

Transportation Assistant Secretary for Maritime Julius Yano previously said the Ro-Ro port projects—which will be located in northern and eastern Luzon, Central Visayas and Mindanao—would cost P100 million each.

These include San Vicente Roro Port, Maconacon Port and Palanan Port in northern Luzon; Dilasag Port, Baler Port, Infanta Port and Catanauan Port in eastern Luzon; Cadiz Port, Ajuy Port and San Fernando Port in Central Visayas; Lupon Roro Port and Sta. Ana Roro Port in Mindanao.

Passenger traffic in January to September surged by 21 percent to 53.08 million from 43.92 million a year ago. In the same period, cargo throughput improved by 4 percent to 201.87 metric tons from 194.4 million a year ago. INQ