Bohol port gets new passenger terminal

The government inaugurated a new passenger terminal building in the Port of Tagbilaran to respond to the growing tourism traffic in the region, the Philippine Ports Authority said on Friday.

The Port of Tagbilaran is the main gateway to and from the province of Bohol. The original facility was demolished after sustaining heavy damage when a 7.1-magnitude quake rocked the province last October 2013.

“With this new facility, our passengers are expected to receive convenience, comfort and security in their travel to and from Bohol,” Tagbilaran port manager Annie Lee Manese said in a statement on Friday.

She said the new facility comes as Bohol noted an increase in the number of cruise ship approvals over the last couple of months.

“The new building is a symbol of PPA’s commitment and strong support to Bohol’s bid for tourism destination and commerce,” Manese said.

The PPA said the two-story, P57-million facility was built by by Dakay Construction and Development Corp. The facility sits on a 1,900-square meter parcel of land, with a seating capacity of 500 passengers and is equipped with X-ray machines, nursing rooms, a ballistic exam room, prayer room and other amenities.

The PPA said the facility is also expected “to be at par with the North Port in Manila, which is considered as the the yardstick of the country’s passenger terminal buildings.”

Aside from Bohol, the PPA is also undertaking several more improvements and refurbishments to passenger terminal buildings to guarantee convenience of passengers while they are at the ports, the statement showed.