Ro-Ro system cuts travel time, costs – ADB

THE roll-on, roll-off (Ro-Ro) system has significantly cut the transport costs, as well as travel time in the Philippines, an Asian Development Bank (ADB) study revealed.

The Manila-based lender said the transport costs were reduced by 10 percent to 60 percent mainly because the cargo handling charges and wharfage fees were eliminated.

ADB said more tourists are using Ro-Ro because of its affordability.

Compared with other modes of transport such as air and traditional shipping, Ro-Ro is a competitive means of transporting passengers, the ADB said.

For example, tourism receipts in Boracay from 2003 to 2006 rose by more than 50 percent. In Iloilo and in Dapitan, receipts rose 30 percent and 200 percent, respectively.

“It should be noted that this rise in tourist arrivals can be attributed to the availability of both Ro-Ro and air transport services,” the ADB said.

In 2003, the government issued a policy to promote Ro-Ro, a system designed to carry rolling stock cargo that does not require cranes for loading or unloading.

The Strong Republic Nautical Highway is one of President Arroyo’s priority programs to ensure fast and economical movement of goods and people, and to boost domestic tourism and trade. The government wants a Ro-Ro port system to link all the country’s islands.

Earlier, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) said the government will expand the country’s Ro-Ro ports by installing 74 modular ports nationwide to link the country’s provinces.

The project, dubbed as Greater Maritime Access (GMA) Ports, will be funded by an P11-billion loan from BNP Paribas.

This project would use prefabricated steel ports composed of five interdependent modular parts, such as pier or causeway connecting to shore, mooring platform, manual ramp dolphin, and passenger terminal with solar power utilities. –DARWIN G. AMOJELAR SENIOR Reporter, Manila Times