Solon eyes Biliran-Calbayog Ro-Ro trips

Solon eyes Biliran-Calbayog Ro-Ro trips
Lizbeth Ann Abella April 26, 2019 https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1068305

TACLOBAN CITY -- Biliran Lone District Rep. Rogelio Espina is eyeing a roll on-roll off (Ro-Ro) port here to enhance trading between Biliran and Samar provinces.

Espina said in a statement issued Friday that connecting the two provinces will both benefit the two islands of the region.

Agriculture products of Biliran can be transported and sold in Samar, which has insufficient supply, Espina said.

Espina also added that connecting the two provinces, which could also lead to the opening of better access to the nearby province of Northern Samar, will make it easy for the people of Biliran to travel to Luzon.

He added that part of his plan is to have a Ro-Ro port either in the towns of Kawayan or Culaba as both areas are nearer to Calbayog City, a fast emerging area in Samar province.

“Whatever abundant supplies we have in Biliran can be sold in Samar and even its nearby province of Northern Samar which are among the most depressed provinces in the country,” the solon said.

Biliran, a small island-province, has long been lifted from the list of the top 20 poor provinces in the country and is experiencing rice sufficiency for the past years now.

If this access will be realized, it will only take about four hours, cutting by half the current travel time of eight hours if one goes by land from this provincial capital to Tacloban City to reach Calbayog City.

Espina said that he will first meet with officials of the Department of Transportations and the Maritime Industry Authority regarding his proposal.

For one, he would like to know if his proposal is feasible, hoping that his idea will get the green light from both agencies.

He said that aside from fast and comfortable transportation, the Biliran-Calbayog route could trigger the influx of more investors and tourists to his province.

“We envision of making Biliran a hub (of trade and commerce). So for this to be realized, we need to open access via Calbayog,” Espina said.

He said that Biliran is not often considered by either investors or tourists because of its location, which is not within the Pan-Pacific Highway, also known as Maharlika Highway.

“Our province is isolated from the Pan-Pacific Highway. If you want to come to Biliran, you really need to take some effort to reach our province,” Espina said.

At present, one can reach Samar from this province by using small motorized boats with very limited capacity. (PNA)