PPA allocates P44M for Ubay port improvement

THE Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has allocated P44 million for the reclamation, widening of the causeway and construction of a roll on-roll-off ramp for the port of Ubay town. In a letter to Gov. Erico Aumentado, General Manager Oscar Sevilla said the PPA already conducted a pre-bid conference last Dec. 20 for projects nationwide to include the Ubay port. He said construction will start within the first quarter of 2007. “Atty. Sevilla's letter is in response to our request to include the extension, expansion and improvement of the Ubay port in PPA's Port Development Program for 2007,” Aumentado said.

The governor earlier learned that PPA allocated P2.7 billion for ports development in the country especially those covered by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's Strong Republic Nautical Highway, hence the request. Ubay is strategically located along this nautical highway. To note, Bohol is set to develop its first-ever Special Economic Zone (SEZ) – a 40-hectare consolidated area in Barangay Achila in Ubay, with another 180 hectares nearby for a housing project – just a mere three kilometers from the port, he justified.

The Ubay Port is Bohol 's principal gateway to Leyte , Samar , Matnog in Sorsogon and on to Pasay City and back to Bohol where Megastar and Philtranco have at least twice daily trips. It is also Bohol 's gateway to Mindanao via Southern Leyte and on to Surigao del Norte and other Mindanao destinations with Bachelor and Ceres bus lines set to use the port for the purpose. Aumentado who hails from the town said the port has also been giving Ubayanos and other Boholanos the convenience of an embarkation point of passengers for Cebu , the hub of Central Visayas , through four vessels plying the route daily.

Ubay is the commercial center of northeastern Bohol , the biggest of the 47 towns in terms of population, land area and income. The only first class municipality in Bohol , Ubay is targeted to be the next city, he said. With the justification, Sevilla expressed appreciation over the governor's interest in port development in Bohol. “Please rest assured that your concerns are being addressed,” he said.

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