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President Rodrigo Duterte inaugurated on November 4 the newly expanded Puerto Princesa port
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The P355-million project doubles the capacity of Palawan port, which currently handles 1.7 million metric tons of cargoes, 1,500 vessel calls, and 200,000 passengers annually
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The project is seen to increase the port’s productivity, particularly its long-haul connection to Metro Manila and planned connectivity to the island of Mindoro through the Port of Bulalacao
President Rodrigo Duterte inaugurated on November 4 the newly expanded Puerto Princesa port, which doubles the gateway’s annual capacities for both cargoes and passengers.
The P355-million project doubles the capacity of the Palawan port, which currently handles an average of 1.7 million metric tons of cargoes, 1,500 vessel calls, and 200,000 passengers annually, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) said in a statement.
The project included construction of a back-up area, excavation of the existing seabed, supply and installation of rubber dock fenders, and supply and installation of bollards.
PPA said Puerto Princesa port, which was completed last July 20, “is now ready to respond to the demands from local and international trade as well as immediately adjust to the requirements of the international cruise-tourism industry under the new normal.”
The project is also seen to increase the port’s productivity, particularly its long-haul connection to Metro Manila and planned connectivity to the island of Mindoro through the Port of Bulalacao.
PPA said to date, new sea vessel services connecting Palawan to Mindoro via Bulalacao port are being planned.
For the past five years, Puerto Princesa port has undergone several facelifts, with the latest completed in 2016 involving another expansion project for the left wing of the terminal.
The expansion of the Puerto Princesa port forms part of the 472 commercial and social tourism projects completed by PPA and mother agency Department of Transportation (DOTr) since 2016.
Aside from Puerto Princesa port, PPA has carried out several port development projects in Palawan. In March 2021, DOTr and PPA inaugurated Bataraza port, which is a connection to the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asian Growth Area; San Fernando port in El Nido, which addresses the growing demands of tourism in the area; and Borac port in Coron, which offers a new and dedicated port facility in the area.
PPA has likewise expanded Coron port to address the demand for cruise tourism as well as the improvement in cargo volume due to increasing demand for supplies from the growing foreign and local tourist arrivals.
PPA said it expects that as COVID-19-related restrictions continue to ease, the number of travelers to and from Palawan will pick up and eventually return to pre-pandemic levels.
Currently, PPA is completing the Port Operations Building at Coron port to further improve the transaction and travel experience of passengers.
A new cargo transit shed at Culion port was also completed and is expected to reduce cargo spillage at the port.
