The Department of Transportation (DOTr) will inaugurate today, Thursday, two transport infrastructure projects that will help Siquijor reach “rapid economic and tourism growth.”
Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade listed the two projects as the upgraded Siquijor Airport and the modernized Siquijor Port.
Completed on July 30, the Siquijor’s upgraded airport sports a new passenger terminal building (PTB), powerhouse, and vehicular parking area (VPA).
At max capacity, the new terminal can accommodate 60 passengers at any given time, six times its capacity before the upgrade.
Tugade added that “repair and maintenance of the perimeter fence and construction of concrete pathwalk, runway provision, taxiway, and apron markings were also completed ahead of time.”
Meanwhile, the upgraded Siquijor Port cover the construction of an RC Wharf with Ro-Ro ramp, a back-up area, and a port lighting system. It was completed last March.
“With its improved facilities, the port now allows faster turnaround time of vessels and shortens the waiting period for passengers, shippers and reduced queueing of rolling cargoes,” Tugade said.
Before the modernization project, the old Siquijor Port can only service a maximum of four ferries. With the renovation works already completed, it can now serve up to eight vessels with provision to handle a 65-meter cargo ship and can service two Ro-Ro vessels at the same time.
Both projects are expected to “boost equitable and inclusive growth in the areas of employment, local trade, and investments,” according to Tugade.