Government to build ‘nautical highways’ on RP waters

Very soon, "nautical highways" will be the norm in our open seas.

If the project of Malacañang and the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) will push through, the country’s major islands will be linked together, not by way of bridges but through an innovative port system using Ro-ro vessels.

Ro-ro (roll-on roll-off) vessels are light ships that could dock directly on ports. When crossing an island, buses, trucks and cars can simply roll onto these vessels and roll-off upon reaching their destinations.

Marina administrator Oscar Sevilla told The STAR that this is better than building bridges.

"Bridges would cost more and would take a longer time to put up. But this project could be implemented soon," he said, adding that the country has enough Ro-ro vessels to implement the project.

What is needed, he said, are new ports and other port facilities in strategic areas where vehicles can load into ships and unload into highways, as well as more light cargo ships to service areas where they are not available.

The project, he said, which will reportedly cost P50 billion and will be funded by the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), is expected to be operational within the year.

"The President wants it implemented as soon as possible," Sevilla said. "The moment Congress opens we expect the law for the projects to be signed right away."

Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza revealedthat the Ro-ro ships and ferries project is one of the flagship projects of President Arroyo.

He said that building the so-called Ro-ro highway, which the President reportedly named "nautical highway," is No. 3 in the President’s eight-point development agenda.

Mendoza explained that with this new system in place, the current cargo loading and unloading set-up, through the traditional tedious and costly "lift on lift off (Lo-lo) services will be totally eliminated. Cargo handling and stevedoring costs will also be reduced.

The DOTC chief revealed that Malacañang is currently drafting an executive order that would provide a package of incentives for the private sector to invest heavily in the Ro-ro port system.

One major incentive being worked out is the exemption of Ro-ro shipments from costly cargo handling. Instead, shippers will only have to pay shipping rates that are no longer based on the type of cargo but on the amount of space occupied by a cargo truck aboard a Ro-ro ship or ferry.

Right now, he said, ships prefer Class A cargoes over Class C cargoes, which are agricultural products, for the simple reason that rates are higher on Class A products.

"This puts agricultural and food products at a disadvantage, thus restricting the flow and supply of agricultural products that eventually result in higher food prices for urban consumers," Mendoza said.

Now, even trucks and other vehicles from the provinces carrying goods, like vegetables, can now go directly to Metro Manila.

"The Ro-ro highway will help bring wealth like goods and opportunities to people, or bring people to where the opportunities are," he said.

Moreover, it is expected to boost trade, tourism and other economic multiplier effects as it benefits commuters, businessmen and tourists through lower transport costs.

DOTC spokesman Thompson Lantion said that these developments are highly welcomed by the Mindanao Business Council as Ro-ro facilities will enhance the flow of services, capital and commodities in the BIMP-EAGA region.

In Mindanao, the Ro-ro networks shall be the backbone of a proposed ASEAN Highway Network.

Lantion said that instead of passing through Manila, trade can now take place directly with any of the Asean countries. Similarly BIMP-EAGA areas like Eastern Indonesia can now trade directly with Mindanao, instead of shipping through Jakarta and Manila.

In Luzon, Batangas will reportedly be the gateway to the rest of the country.