Travel to BIMP through RORO will soon be possible

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Travel to and from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines via the roll on-roll off (RORO) ferry will soon be possible.

President Aquino is expected to push for further connectivity in the sub-region through the establishment of the RORO transportation system when he attends the 7th Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Leaders‘ Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia over the weekend.

The 7th BIMP-EAGA Leaders Summit will be held on the sidelines of the 18th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Leaders’ Summit being held from May 4 to 8 at the Jakarta Convention Center.

This year’s BIMP-EAGA Leaders‘ Summit will highlight issues on improving interconnectivity within the sub-region in line with the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity.

The development of RORO system has been identified as a key strategy to expand trade and reduce the cost of inter-island transportation across the sub-region.

There are six potential RORO routes identified for BIMP-EAGA, particularly connecting Mindanao and its neighboring areas in the sub-region.

These are the Zamboanga-Sandakan (Sabah), Zamboanga-Kota Kinabalu (Sabah), Zamboanga-Muara (Brunei), Glan, Sarangani-Tahuna or Bitung (Indonesia), Brooke’s Point (Palawan) Kudat (Sabah), and Gensan-Muara (Brunei) routes.

The EAGA leaders are also expected to provide key directives on fast-tracking the implementation of priority infrastructure projects in the sub-region, particularly in the areas of transport, energy, trade facilitation and information communication technology (ICT).

The meeting is also expected to come up with key directives on ensuring food security, promoting eco-tourism, developing strategies for conservation and sustainable management of EAGA’s natural resources and biodiversity.

Strengthening the BIMP-EAGA Business Council will also be discussed in recognition of the private sector’s critical role in accelerating the growth of the sub-region.

“President Aquino takes cognizance of BIMP-EAGA as a key strategy towards a more integrated economy that generates business opportunities for growth,” Mindanao Development Authority chair Luwalhati Antonino said.

She said this year’s summit will be an opportunity for the four member-countries to take stock of what has been achieved so far and pursue more strategic and concrete programs and projects that would ensure the attainment of development goals and targets set forth in the EAGA roadmap.