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DOTC Sets Course To Improvements Sea Ports; Roxas Suspends Implementation Of LTFRB Decision Reviving PANTRANCO Bus Franchises and DOTC-PPA Intercepts 51 Containers Containing Illegal Logs

Posted on July 4th By DOTC-PID,


DOTC SETS COURSE TO IMPROVE SEA PORTS

P93.8 million allotted to rehabilitate and expand several harbors

Manila, Philippines – The Department of Transportation and Communications has allotted P93.8 million to improve several ports in the country in anticipation of increased commercial shipping activities.

Transportation and Communications Secretary Mar Roxas said the government will rehabilitate and expand the sea ports in Corcuera, Romblon; Sto. Domingo, Bacacay, and Pili—all in Albay; Palid, Zamboanga Sibugay; Melga, Dinagat Island; and Placer, Surigao Del Norte.

“These projects are a key component to the commitment of the government to provide convenient, affordable, reliable, efficient, and safe transport,” Roxas said. “These will also respond to the steady expansion of shipping activities—shipcalls, cargo throughputs, and passenger and container tra­ffic—which made it a necessity to expand and upgrade the country’s port community.”

The Corcuera Port project in Romblon is the biggest among the DOTC’s port development projects, worth P28.7 million. It aims to improve the regular and special boat trips from Corcuera to Calatrava in Tablas Island as well as to the provincial capital of Romblon; Banton Island, and San Agustin.

Next is the P28.4-million port project in Placer, Surigao Del Norte. The port serves all sea crafts within the municipality and from the neighboring islands and towns.

The Bacacay Port project in Albay is also scheduled to be improved to handle the expanding number of shipment of coal products coming from island barangays. The project cost is estimated at P9.6 million.

The Pili Port job in Albay will amount to P8.7 million so that the docks can be expanded to accommodate not only motorized bancas plying Pili Bay but also handle the expected increase in the fish and other aquaculture production in the area.

In Sto. Domingo, Albay, its port lies strategically between Legazpi City and Tabaco City. It caters not only to boats of fisher folks, but also pump boats carrying tourists on island-hopping tours in several islets off the shores of Albay. The project will entail a cost of P8.6 million.

Meanwhile, the Palid Wharf in Zamboanga Sibugay will be improved to the tune of P4.9 million so that it can provide a connection to Buluan Island—a flora and fauna sanctuary that offers breathtaking underwater sceneries populated by untouched corals as well as 21 observed families of fishes, giant clams, and marine turtles.

The P4.9-million Melgar Wharf project in Dinagat Island aims to make the port as one of the main entry points from Surigao del Norte to Dinagat Island. The wharf will also serve the fishing activities in the area and transport of passenger and goods from/to San Jose, Surigao Port and other nearby barangays.

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ROXAS SUSPENDS IMPLEMENTATION OF LTFRB DECISION REVIVING PANTRANCO BUS FRANCHISES

Manila, Philippines – Transportation Secretary Mar Roxas suspended the May 21 decision of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to revive the 489 bus franchises of the now-defunct Pantranco North Express Inc.

under Sections 1 and 3, Rule 19 of the 2011 Revised Rules of Practice and Procedure of the LTFRB, the DOTC Secretary has the power to review “motu propio” and issue an order staying the execution of the decision of the LTFRB.

The DOTC Franchising Review Staff (FRS) received on June 18, 2012 a copy of a petition filed by Mencorp Transport Corp. Inc. and Fermina Express Corp. on June 11, 2012 relative to the said LTFRB decisions.

Roxas directed the DOTC legal team to conduct a comprehensive and fair review of the LTFRB decision.

“Bibigyan natin ng masususing pag-aaral at titignan ang lahat ng legal na aspeto na napapaloob sa pagbibigay ng prangkisa sa mga ruta ng bus na may kaugnayan sa isyung ito,” Roxas said. “Nais naming maging patas ang ating desisyun na naayon sa itinakda ng batas at matuwid na daan.”

The DOTC legal team is also reviewing the government’s policy regarding the selling of franchises to third parties.

“It’s not right for the certificate of public conveyance in the land transportation sector to be transferred arbitrarily without the consent of its rightful owner which is the State,” Roxas said.

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DOTC-PPA INTERCEPTS 51 CONTAINERS CONTAINING ILLEGAL LOGS

Manila, Philippines – The Department of Transportation and Communications today said the Philippine Ports Authority intercepted fifty-one (51) containers of alleged illegal logs at the North Harbor.

In a report to Transportation Secretary Mar Roxas of PPA General Manager Juan Sta. Ana, he said the intercepted containers were part of the 55 containers shipped and consigned to a certain One Stop Logistics.

The said logistic company was able to facilitate the release of 4 out of the 55 containers yesterday (June 28) at around 4am.

“Currently, the 51 containers are still being held at the North Harbor upon request of the NBI to hold the said shipment pending investigation,” Sta. Ana said.

Sta. Ana said the containers, which were manifested as containing cement, were shipped from Davao passing through Cebu with the North Harbor as its final destination.  It was shipped via Lorcon Dumaguete Shipping Line.

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