The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) on Friday last week announced that it will be opening a Roll-on, Roll-off (RoRo) missionary route between Loay, Bohol and Cagayan de Oro in a bid to improve interconnectivity among islands in the archipelago.
The Loay – Cagayan course is among eight new missionary routes which will be opened by the Marina.
Marina officer-in-charge Vice Admiral Narciso Vingson, Jr., during the last Oversight Meeting of the House Committee on Transportation chaired by House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, presented the planned opening of the following missionary routes:
- Daanbantayan, Cebu to Calbayog City, Samar
- Tabuelan, Cebu to Ajuy, Iloilo
- Loay, Bohol to Cagayan de Oro
- San Juan, Batangas to Calapan, Oriental Mindoro
- Iloilo City to Cuyo, Palawan
- San Pascual, Burias Island, Masbate to Pasacao, Camarines Sur
- San Andres, Quezon to Pasacao, Camarines Sur
- Lucena, Quezon to San Fernando, Masbate
In a statement, Marina, an attached agency of the Department of Transportation (DOTr), said that the initiative is part of efforts to boost domestic shipping in support of the nautical highway development under the 10-year Maritime Industry Development Plan (MIDP).
“The agency encourages shipping companies to operate in any of the newly-opened RoRo missionary routes in support of the enhancement of the country’s Road RoRo Terminal System (RRTS), a seamless stretch of roads and ports to improve inter-island transportation, enhance tourism, and expand regional markets, among others,” the Marina added.
The MARINA will issue a letter of approval to the proponent shipping operator to start vessel operations on its proposed route while undergoing the process of acquiring its Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC).
“Upon granting of the CPC, the proponent shipping operator shall enjoy a five-year route protection or protection of investment, as well as a 50-percent discount on the processing on the regular fees of all applications and renewal of ship documents, licenses, certificates, and permits,” the Marina said.
Last month, the Marina established the Punta Engano, Mactan Island, Cebu – Getafe, Bohol RoRo route.
This was opened along with 18 other missionary routes.
“In February 2019, seven of the 19 newly-opened RoRo missionary routes were already applied for by shipping operators, signifying their interest to serve the unserved routes within the Philippine nautical highway,” the Marina said.
Missionary routes provide one or more direct points connecting ports that have no existing shipping services due to geographical limitation or absence of market viability.
“Missionary route” is a term almost exclusively used in the Philippines. (RT)