DAVAO CITY –— Travelling between Cotabato City and Basilan province has a littled relief as the Bangsamoro Ministry of Transportation and Communication (MOTC) Maritime Industry Authority approved the opening of the Roll-on/Roll-Off (RORO) trips from Cotabato City Port to Lamitan City Port in Basilan province.
According to MOTC’s Bangsamoro Maritime Industry Authority (BMARINA), the route will traverse the Polloc Port, Cotabato City Port to Lamitan Port, Basilan Province, and vice-versa starting April 25, 2023.
Lamitan City is the economic corridor of Basilan province. The City Port is equipped with modern port facilities.
Transportation Minister Atty. Paisalin Tago said the opening of the new route will boost the economic activities of the Bangsamoro region, saying “The new route will promote and strengthen the economic activities of the provinces of Maguindanao and Basilan.”
In a statement, Tago said, the Board agreed to launch the opening of the new route on the said date as it will provide new and efficient transportation options and increase the productivity of the regional transportation system.
Before the opening of the route, transport of goods and movement of people from Cotabato City to Basilan province takes tiime as they need to pass through Zamboanga City.
“Before its initial voyage and upon compliance with all necessary documents, BMARINA and the Philippine Coastguard (PCG) will conduct their inspection to ensure the vessel’s ‘seaworthiness’,” the statement added.
The initiative of opening the new route came after the pending application for Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC) of MV Island Paradise, owned by Atty. Pherham Saiddi of Saiddi Agri-Farm and Trading, Inc. (SAFTI) with BMARINA was approved
