PGMA to launch RORO link between Cebu, Northern Mindanao

By Rachelle Nessia

Dumaguete City (Negros Oriental) — Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is set to launch today the Roll-On Roll-Off (RORO) link between Cebu province and Northern Mindanao in Samboan, Cebu.

The ports and wharfs through government and private sector partnerships are integral parts of the President’s Strong Republic Nautical Highway Project as it links to the Western Seaboard and the Central Nautical Highway system connecting the Visayan Islands to Northern Mindanao.

The President will arrive at the Sibulan-Dumaguete City Airport here before going to Samboan for the launching.

At the airport, the President will be received by Press Secretary Cerge M. Remonde, Presidential Adviser for Central Visayas Felix Guanzon, COMCENTCOM M/Gen. Ralph Villanueva and Philippine National Police Region 7 Director C/Supt. Lani-o Nerez.

From the Dumaguete Airport, the President will fly via chopper to Sitio Bato, Brgy. San Sebastian in SAmboan, Cebu province where she will be met by Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia, Samboan Mayor Raymond Joseph Calderon, 2nd District Rep. Pablo Garcia, Lite Shipping Corporation President Lucio Lim Jr., Cebu Port Authority General Manager Angelo Verdan and MARINA Administrator Usec. Ma. Elena Bautista.

The President is expected to observe the ongoing development projects of the ferry wharf and fastcraft ports in Samboan, Cebu after which she will board the vehicle for the Lite Shipping Corporation Wharf in Brgy. San Sebastian, Samboan.

At the wharf, Lite Shipping Corp. President Lim will brief the President on the new route after which she will witness the loading of cargoes and passengers for the maiden voyage of the Ro-Ro vessel M/V Lite Ferry One.

This new route will directly link link Cebu Island (Bato, San Sebastian, Saboan, Cebu) to the Northern Mindanao areas (Pulauan, Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte).

It is a major link that merging the Central Nautical Highway to the last leg of the Western Seaboard Nautical Highway under the Strong Republic Nautical Highway System.

The Cebu-Dapitan maiden voyage is scheduled to depart Samboan, Cebu for Pulauan Port in Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte at 6 p.m. on November 21.

Travel time for the new route is four and a half (4 ½) hours via the Ro-Ro ferry M/V Lite Ferry One.

Lite Shipping Corporation is a domestic shipping company operating 12 full RoRo cargo/passenger vessels servicing the nautical highway links in Cebu, Bohol, Negros, Leyte, Siquijor and Misamis Occidental and now Zamboanga del Norte. (PIA/RMN)