Fastcrafts going to Bacolod and back and roll on-roll off (roro) ships plying the Iloilo-Manila route and to Palawan said goodbye to the century-old river port at the Muelle Loney side to transfer across the Iloilo River at Barangay Progreso, Lapuz.
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| Credits: Jed Patrick E. Mabilog Facebook |
A P230-million roro facility and passenger terminal building was inaugurated on Friday, September 5, to start the transfer and operations of the fast-crafts and roro vessels in the Lapuz side.
Senate President Franklin Drilon, Representative Jerry P. Trenas and Engr. Tom Carlos of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) led in the inaugural rites accompanied by Councilor Nielex Tupas, who represented Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, and Iloilo second district Representative Arcadio Gorriceta.
PPA Iloilo port manager Manuel Boholano said the new port complex covers P19 million for the construction of the passenger terminal building, P115 million for berthing facility, P24 million for site development, P900,000 for landscaping, P13 million for additional facilities, P13 million for concreting of approach, and P41.76 million for dredging.
The new river port in Lapuz area will decongest traffic flow at the Muelle Loney, which Drilon said will be developed as another tourism site as soon as Esplanade III is in place along the river. (via PNA)
