Lawmaker says RoRo ports to promote tourism, trade

MANILA, Philippines - The senior vice chairman of the House committee on tourism urged President Aquino over the weekend to boost programs that promote domestic tourism and trade through better nautical transport systems.

Laguna Rep. Edgar San Luis issued the statement as the President is set to appoint a new tourism chief to replace former secretary Alberto Lim, who resigned on Friday.

San Luis pointed out that Lim was on the right track in giving equal attention in developing local tourism markets and attracting more foreign visitors.

“There are millions more Filipinos wanting to join their 25 million compatriots who have visited popular tourist spots during the first period half of the year. We only need to make travel easier and less expensive for them,” he said.

The National Tourism Development Plan 2011-2016 projects 32 million local travelers by the end of Aquino’s term if the administration “improves market access and connectivity.”

San Luis warned the tourism targets may not be met if the government does not take advantage of the benefits of developing the nautical highway, particularly the modular roll-on, roll-off (RoRo) ports system, that he said was cheaper and more convenient for travelers.

He also pushed for the immediate implementation of the ferry system at Laguna de Bay and Pasig River as these can help decongest traffic in Metro Manila and neighboring areas.

He cautioned the administration for moving towards cancelling the contract to construct 72 steel modular RoRo ports in the country to be funded by the French government.

“In an archipelago like the Philippines, the easiest and cheapest way to connect the islands is through the use of water vessels, not through cars or aircraft,” San Luis said.

Supporters of the French government-assisted project cite government infrastructure data that modular RoRo ports are cheaper and faster to build, and could be dismantled and installed in another area.