Ubay RORO ports spell magic to local economy

THE Tapal Ubay-Maasin, Southern Leyte roll-on roll-off (RORO) port opens up a thousand possibilities for this second class town, said Mayor Eutiquio Bernales in reaction to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's State of the Nation Address (SONA) during the opening of the 13th Congress.

Aside from attaining a funding solution to jumpstarting a sluggish economy in Bohol 's largest town but still saddled with poverty, the mayor sees the SONA as the magic formula the town has awaited.

Economically, he was looking at accelerated economic growth in Ubay's agri-eco-tourism's new clients: land-trip tourists from Luzon , Visayas and Mindanao . Agro-economically, it also spells faster transport for local agricultural products to Visayas and Metro Manila markets.

The President's naming Bohol 's as a distinct destination also puts in a natural competitive edge in tourism to Ubay, which sits on a two-hour slow boat ride from Leyte provinces.

Opening Ubay RORO access routes to Bato and Maasin also opens Ubay to tourists and manufactured or processed goods spilling in Metro Manila markets to the stalls here. Leyte sits at a 35-45-minutes ride to wondrous Chocolate Hills and amazing tarsiers.

The infrastructure may also allow investors to put in a fast craft service, with Bohol 's tourism flooring it to the limits.

Fresh from a test-drive from Pasay to Ubay via Matnog and then to Samar and Leyte, Bernales said the cost of transportation is only a third compared to taking the usual Manila-Cebu or Manila-Tagbilaran ferry service.

Mayor Bernales in earlier reports said the trip also affords added attractions with Mayor Volcano, San Juanico Bridge and the forests of Quezon Province .

On its agri-economy, the connection to Southern Leyte and then to Manila means efficient transport system for farm products and goods. Ubay, Bohol 's largest agricultural town is picking for a start in agricultural production with vast irrigated rice lands served by the Bohol Irrigation Projects.

Visibly enjoying form the fresh ripple of the economy with the newly operational Ubay-Bato-Cubao-Pasay Philtranco route, the mayor said the town has enough funds to take on the President's dare.

He said the causeway construction at Poblacion port has P40M funds, dredging works are also in place to prepare the port for bigger and larger vessels.

Works to the Tapal Ubay access road, is about 80% completed, and pending the Maasin expansion, the ferries can embark on the route.

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