Samal RoRo Facility Budget Reallocated
Instead of competing with the private sector, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said that government must complement the private Roll-on Roll-off facilities already in place in Davao City and Samal. This she declared during her visit to Davao City, which she inaugurated the P396-million Port of Davao expansion project in Sasa seaport last Friday (Feb. 13).
Another expansion program of the Sasa seaport was programmed for the construction of RoRo facilities in the wharf. The RoRo system would have connected it to Samal Island which will then connect with another RoRo system to Lupon in Davao Oriental. The RoRo project is one of the flagship programs of the Arroyo administration. An Asian Development Bank funded project is the Davao-Samal-Lupon RoRo system.
However, the President during an interaction with members of the media right after the inauguration bared that she realized that there were already existing RoRo ramps in Davao City and Samal both owned by the Bangayan family which operates a ferry service that connects Davao City and the Island Garden City of Samal. The President said that the Government must not compete with the private sector but instead complement the existing private sector initiative. She said that instead of building a RoRo ramp in Samal and Davao, the budget instead will be allocated to build a RoRo facility in Pantukan in Compostela Valley province. She said that Pantukan was chosen instead of the original plan in Lupon was that based on studies, Lupon is not one of the best places for placing a RoRo port.
Another promotion strategy the President is working out is to entice the Bangayans to build another RoRo port in the eastern side of Samal, which will be complemented by the ongoing project of Davao del Norte second district Congressman Anton Lagdameo to build a road network across Samal. (PIA XI)
Reference: PIA Information Services – Philippine Information Agency
Philippine Ports Authority Port Mananagement Office of Davao
Hi Randy – I have often advocated that there should be RoRo service from East Samal to Davao Oriental. I would love to see this happen, and it would really make it a quick trip from the City to Mati via Samal. It would also be great for the economy of Samal Island.
Hi Mindanao Bob – it would certainly make the east side more appealing, at least in some regards. Additional ferry service could only be a good thing, and I would hope lessen the perceived need for a bridge.
I agree with bob. That would be a great improvement. I just hope the funds are really put to good use! Meaning, i hope they would really build roro ports.
Hi Migs – thanks for dropping by.
There are a lot of different projects proposed for the island. It’s apparent that not all of them will see the light of day. Not being from the Philippines, I’m not sure if that is a common occurrence there or not. Seems likely though, as we get our share of that where I live, too.
Do funds get allocated and then used for things other than the intended often?
Hello all, I would just like to point out that the roro facilities were built without public funds. The local government wanted a budget allocated for a ferry service and when the President saw already one existed, she “bared” why there was a need for a budget when there is already one existing and why compete with the private sector. This does not make sense when the government is trying to encourage private investments into the country and then come in to compete with them.
Hi Ellen – you are correct. They are also trying to get the Bangayans to build another RoRo port on the east side of Samal as opposed to a government funded one. But the funds that were originally to be used for Samal will now be for a different RoRo, not servicing Samal for the reason you mentioned.