Cotabato-Basilan ro-ro link eyed in Jan

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A vessel arriving at Lamitan port. Photo from Bangsamoro Ports Management Authority.
  • A roll-on/roll-off service connecting Cotabato and Basilan is targeted for a January 2023 launch
  • The service is part of a plan by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to set up a Ro-Ro network between Cotabato and the Basulta island chain comprising Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi
  • Two other routes connecting Basilan to Jolo and Jolo to Tawi-Tawi will be launched later
  • Potential cargoes include agri-fishery products from Basulta to mainland BARMM, and construction materials and consumer products from the mainland to Basilan

A Cotabato-Basilan roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) link is targeted for launch in January 2023, according to Export Development Council-Networking Committee on Transport and Logistics chair Enrico Basilio.

The service is the first leg of a Ro-Ro network between Cotabato and Basulta, the island chain of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi, being planned by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Basilio said during a recent forum held by the Anti-Red Tape Authority.

Two other routes connecting Basilan and Jolo, and Jolo and Tawi-Tawi will be launched later, said Basilio, who is also chief of party of the US Agency for International Development’s Regulatory Reform Support Program for National Development Project.

The first route will use Polloc port in Cotabato and Lamitan port in Basilan.

Basilio said the proposed Ro-Ro network will support the new international service at Zamboanga port that started in November. Zamboanga Port received its first international container vessel on November 11 with the maiden call of Thailand-based Regional Container Lines’ M/V Danu Bhum, which connects Zamboanga to Singapore.

RELATED READ: Zamboanga welcomes first international containership

Basilio said the proposed new route can be connected to the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines-East ASEAN Growth Area shipping network to take advantage of trading activities with neighboring countries.

He said potential cargoes include agri-fishery products from Basulta to mainland BARMM, and construction materials and consumer products from mainland BARMM to Basilan.

BARMM, the only region in the country with its own government, consists of the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi. On March 27, 2021, the Department of Transportation officially turned over its functions and assets to MOTC. – Roumina Pablo

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