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Siquijor’s newly expanded seaport and airport inaugurated on Aug 26
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The Siquijor port expansion doubled its berthing capacity from four vessels to eight passenger ferries
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Port queue will be reduced by more than half
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Vessels up to 65 meters long may be handled by the port
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The Siquijor Airport project features a new passenger terminal building that can accommodate 60 passengers from the previous 10
The Department of Transportation (DOTr), Philippine Ports Authority, and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines formally inaugurated on August 26 Siquijor’s newly expanded port and airport.
The Siquijor port expansion project, started in 2018 and completed on March 23, 2021, doubles the port’s berthing capacity from the previous four vessels to eight passenger ferries or two roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) vessels and one 65-meter-long cargo ship, DOTr said in a statement.
The project also involved completion of a reinforced concrete wharf with Ro-Ro ramps, a 4,000-square-meter backup area, and a port lighting system.
With the two Ro-Ro ramps, DOTr noted that queuing time will be reduced by more than half and the port will have enough capacity to handle a vessel up to 65 meters in length.
Previously, long queues of rolling cargoes offshore were a common sight at Siquijor port, DOTr said. Incoming vessels were forced to stop at anchorage while waiting to be served due to lack of berthing space, resulting in delays in vessel turnaround and passenger movement. This also significantly interrupted Siquijor’s supply chain for both essential and non-essential shipments.
The expanded facility is expected to complement the passenger terminal building (PTB) refurbished some three years ago and which has a seating capacity of almost 300 passengers at any given time.
The seaport’s expansion is seen to help decongest nearby ports like Larena and Lazi.
The Siquijor Airport project, meanwhile, consists of a new PTB that can now accommodate 60 passengers from the previous 10, a powerhouse, and a vehicle parking area.
The upgrading of Siquijor Airport started in March 2018 and was completed on July 30, 2021.
Currently, though, only 40 passengers will be served at the new PTB in compliance with strict protocols on social distancing to contain the spread of COVID-19.
The airport project involved the repair and maintenance of the perimeter fence, and construction of a concrete walkway, runway provision, taxiway and apron markings. More developments are being eyed, including asphalt overlay and extension of the runway.
