A shipping line has applied for an alternate port call in Negros Oriental to help alleviate the congestion caused by trucks being diverted from the San Juanico Bridge.
Edward Du, president of the Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NOCCI), stated on Tuesday that final arrangements are being made with the province’s Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).
While specific details such as the name of the shipping line or the schedule of port calls in Tambobo Bay were not immediately available, Du noted that the PPA conducted dredging operations of the Tambobo Bay channel last year to allow larger sea vessels access to the bay’s interior.
MARINA and PPA have indicated that adding more vessels to call on the ports in Negros Oriental will help alleviate the traffic surge, a problem expected to persist for at least two to three years until the San Juanico Bridge is fully repaired.
“The shipping line has applied for a port call at the Tambobo Bay port in Barangay Bonbonon in Siaton so that diverted trucks from the Visayas region can now ply this route between Negros Oriental and Mindanao,” Du explained.
Last week, a joint team visited the port in Barangay Bonbonon for discussions with residents and officials to determine necessary requirements, such as holding or parking areas for the trucks. Du noted that one of the primary concerns is the parking area for fish carrier trucks that regularly call on the Tambobo port.
He emphasized that a “win-win situation” must be established to ensure no one is disenfranchised.