THE TRANSPORTATION department said Thursday that Oriental Mindoro’s Port of Calapan passenger terminal building, which is currently being expanded to accommodate 3,500 passengers at any given time from the cur-rent 800, will be the biggest in the country once completed in February 2023.
“Once the ongoing expansion of the passenger terminal building of the Calapan Port in Oriental Mindoro is complete, it will be the biggest port passenger terminal to date as it can accommodate 3,500 passengers at any given time,” Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade said in a statement.
“This will form part of the 484 port projects completed by the (Department of Transportation, or DoTr) and PPA (Philippine Ports Authority) since July 2016,” he added.
The current biggest passenger terminal building is that of Cagayan de Oro, with a capacity of 3,000 passengers at any given time.
Government officials, including Mr. Tugade, unveiled Tuesday eight port projects in the provinces of Occidental and Oriental Mindoro.
The DoTr said the improved and expanded seaports include the Port of Abra de Ilog in Occidental Mindoro.
Seaport projects unveiled in Oriental Mindoro include the Ports of Calapan, Balatero, Bansud, Bulalacao, Mansalay, and Roxas.
“The simultaneous inaugurations of the seaports pave the way for business and employment opportunities for Filipinos. The upgraded seaports will also improve inter-island travel as well as the movement of essential goods between Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro and neighboring provinces,” the DoTr said. — Arjay L. Balinbin