MARINA Opens 8 New RoRo Routes

The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) announced yesterday, Friday, March 8, that it has opened eight new Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) missionary routes in line with its effort to modernize the local shipping industry.

In a statement, the MARINA said the following RoRo routes have been opened for application by interested shipping companies:

1. Daanbantayan, Cebu to Calbayog City, Samar;
2. Tabuelan, Cebu to Ajuy, Iloilo;
3. Laoay, Bohol to Cagayan de Oro;
4. San Juan, Batangas to Calapan, Oriental Mindoro;
5. Iloilo City to Cuyo, Palawan;
6. San Pascual, Burias Island, Masbate to Pasacao, Camarines Sur;
7. San Andres, Quezon to Pasacao, Camarines Sur; and
8. Lucena, Quezon to San Fernando, Masbate.

The MARINA will issue a letter of approval to the proponent shipping operator to start vessel operations on its proposed route while undergoing the process of acquiring its Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC).

"Upon granting of the CPC, the proponent shipping operator shall enjoy a five-year route protection or protection of investment, as well as a 50-percent discount on the processing on the regular fees of all applications and renewal of ship documents, licenses, certificates, and permits," the MARINA's statement read.

The new RoRo missionary routes were presented by MARINA officer-in-charge, Vice Admiral Narciso Vingson Jr., during the latest Oversight Meeting of the House of Representatives' Committee on Transportation, chaired by Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Arroyo lauded the MARINA for its efforts to promote greater connectivity and economic interactions among various islands in the country.

Missionary routes provide one or more direct points connecting ports that have no existing shipping services due to geographical limitation or absence of market viability.

Last February, MARINA opened 19 RoRo routes after Arroyo urged the Department of Transportation to give missionary routes to shipping lines to address the problem of unserved ports due to lack of operators.

A total of seven of the 19 routes were already applied for by shipping operators, signifying their interest to serve the unserved routes within the Philippine nautical highway.

Shipping firms that are interested to operate along the new routes may file their applications with MARINA.

These will become operational once a qualified applicant is determined based on evaluation of its documents and has been issued the necessary permits by MARINA.