The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) will be expanding the seaports of Bohol amid the projected increase in passenger traffic at the facilities brought by the province’s rapid economic growth which is fueled by its burgeoning tourism industry.

James Gantalao, PPA-Bohol general manager, said that the Department of Transportation (DOTr), through its aggressive infrastructure program “Build, Build, Build,” allocated a P2.2-billion budget for the expansion of the province’s ports.

The ports covered by the expansion program include those in Ubay, Tagbilaran City, Getafe, Jagna and Maribijoc. A P500-million budget from the total fund meanwhile was allocated for the reclamation of some areas surrounding ports which will undergo expansion.

According to Gantalao, a pre-bid conference is also set to be conducted for the construction of municipal seaports in Baclayon, Bien Unido and Duero.

He said that the Tagbilaran Tourist Port alone has an average passenger traffic of 10,000 people per day.

Bohol has daily passenger traffic of 25,000 through the ports of Tagbilaran, Tubigon, Ubay, Jagna, Talibon, Loon, and Getafe.

Meanwhile, a second passenger terminal building is being erected at the Tagbilaran Tourist Port. Gantalao said that the facility is expected to decongest the Tagbilaran pier, the largest and busiest among the ports of the province.

“Mahuman na next year January pohon ang Passenger Terminal 2, kanang gi-construct nato ron capacity of 2,000, tanang failure sa Terminal 1 ma walay PWD requirements, walay compliance sa atong senior citizens, e-comply na nato sa PTB 2,” said Gantalao.