Most of 20 port projects in Eastern Visayas completed, port official says

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
February 7, 2008

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  –  Almost all the twenty port projects in Eastern Visayas have been completed, the unassuming Philippine Ports Authority Regional Office 8 Manager Winfred G. Elizalde informed as he disclosed the status of the twenty port projects in Eastern Visayas.

This is indeed good news to the people of Region 8. Through these port projects, the delivery of basic goods and farm produce such as vegetables and livestock is made more easy, economical and efficient as travel time to and from destinations as well as transportation costs are considerably reduced. These port projects will also promote domestic tourism.

These twenty projects include 2 which are SONA/Strong Republic Nautical Highway Network projects; 4 which are SONA projects; 2 which under the Strong Republic Nautical Highway Network projects; and 12 which are under the Anti-Hunger Mitigation Program.

The San Ricardo Port Improvement Project located at Barangay Benit, San Ricardo, Southern Leyte, is on-going with 25.15 percent completed as of December 25, 2007. This project which amounts to P75, 399,487 is a SONA/ Strong Republic Nautical Highway Network project.

Another SONA/Strong Republic Nautical Highway Network project, the Construction of Ro-Ro Ramp and Passenger Terminal Building in Naval Biliran is on-going and has been reported to be 64.04 percent complete as of January 2008.

The Port Expansion Project in Maripipi, Biliran, a SONA project with a total budget of P49,049,991, is still on-going and 75 percent complete as of January 2008.

Three other SONA projects have been completed. The Port Development Project in Limasawa, Southern Leyte which amounts to P13,374,376 and the  construction of Port Terminal Building also in Limasawa, amounting to P4,240,655, have been completed as of January 25, 2008.

The third completed SONA project is the Reconstruction, Widening and Extension of R.C. Wharf in Maasin City, Southern Leyte which amounts to P91,340,000.

The two projects under the Strong Republic Nautical Highway Network are the Liloan Ferry Terminal Expansion Project amounting to P62,895,875 which was completed as of September 21, 2007; and the Port Improvement Project in Kawayan, Biliran with a budget of P13,940,000, which was reported to be substantially completed as of January 2008.

Of the 12 projects under the Anti-Hunger Mitigation Program, ten have been reported to have been completed.

These include the Rehabilitation of Carigara Port in Carigara, Leyte amounting to P5,125,826 which was completed as of December 19, 2007; the Improvement of Almagro Port in Almagro, Samar amounting to P7,400,945 which was completed as of November 4, 2007; the Improvement of Sto. Niño Port in Sto. Niño, Samar with a budget of P8,763,492 which was completer as of October 28, 2007; the Improvement of Pasanghan Port in Pagsanghan, Samar with a budget of P6,059,901 which was completed as of October 28, 2007; and the Improvement of Ligaya Port in Ligaya, Rosario, Northern Samar with a budget of P13,628,644 which was completed as of October 4, 2007.

Also included are the Improvement of Biri Port in Biri, Northern Samar amounting to P8,144,484 which was completed as of October 4, 2007; the Port Expansion Project in Hilongos, Leyte with a budget of P91,509,653 which was completed on August 9, 2007; the Port Improvement Project (Construction of RC Pier) in San Isidro, Leyte with a budget of P29,444,366 which was completed on June 4, 2007; the Port Improvement Project (Rehabilitation of Causeway and Reclamation) with a budget of P9,897,759 which was reported to be substantially completed of January 31, 2008; and the Port Improvement Project in Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte with a budget of P11,883,074 which was reported to be substantially completed as of January 2008.