Upgraded Coron, Calapan, Masbate ports ready to serve more passengers in March

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The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is set to inaugurate next month three port projects—in Masbate, Palawan and Oriental Mindoro—as it prepares for the expected growth in passenger traffic with the further reopening of the economy.

The Masbate port project, which includes a port operations building, will raise the passenger capacity to 542 from the current 100. It also has 1,000-square-meters of transit shed, which will be leased out to cargo handling operators.

With the growth of tourist arrivals, the Coron port is set to operate a new port operations building, doubling passenger capacity to 500.

A much bigger project is the one in Oriental Mindoro. The new terminal building at Calapan port will be able to accommodate 3,500 passengers, more than double the 1,600-passenger capacity now.

“This is really for the passengers of Calapan Port; it is apt that we give the public quality service and world-class facilities that they can use while waiting for their trips,” Elvis Medalla, port manager of PPA Port Management Office-Mindoro, said earlier.

Long queues of passengers at the Port of Calapan were observed during the first days of the new year as people returned to school and work after the holiday break, which required additional deployment of ships.

This year, PPA is projecting a passenger traffic growth of 20 to 25 percent across all ports nationwide as more individuals are expected to travel after years of pandemic-induced lockdowns.

Meanwhile, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced a P500-million funding for the upgrade and runway extension of the Antique Airport. A portion will be allocated for the construction of a passenger terminal building, control tower and fire house.

“The fund allocation will guarantee an upsurge in tourism and economic activities in Antique and Western Visayas,” the DOTr added.

—TYRONE JASPER C. PIAD INQ