A WORLD-CLASS passenger terminal with a budget hotel for transient passengers may soon rise at Maya Roro Port in Daanbantayan town in Northern Cebu.
This after Daanbantayan Mayor Sun Shimura announced that they have submitted a proposal to the Cebu Port Authority (CPA) to collaborate on the development of their roro (roll on, roll off) port in Barangay Maya.
Shimura said they plan to establish a commercial center inside the terminal and a budget mall that can accommodate passengers especially those who might get stranded when trips are canceled due to bad weather.
“We have requested the CPA that the LGU (local government unit) will handle the management and operation of the passenger terminal,” said Shimura.
The municipality is currently using its tourism building, which is situated at the port, as a temporary terminal for passengers.
Shimura said there was a need to construct a separate terminal as the port has no dedicated passenger terminal and the town’s tourism building cannot accommodate a large volume of passengers.
Shimura added that he has already consulted the Daanbantayan Municipal Council and they are just waiting for the final design of the project.
When asked about the cost of building the terminal port, Shimura said the amount is yet to be determined since the final design is still being crafted.
But Shimura said the CPA has also allocated P120 million for the expansion of the port’s berthing area that can expand the number of routes and trips in the port.
“This will encourage shipping lines to open new routes going to other parts of the region,” said Shimura.
The mayor further said the construction of the new terminal will begin most probably after the May 2022 election.
“I’d rather have it right after the election to spare the project from being politicized,” Shimura added.
The Maya Roro Port serves routes going to Malapascua Island, Samar, Leyte, Batangas, Biliran and Masbate