State-run, Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) yesterday officially opened the country’s largest Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) in Port of Calapan, Oriental Mindoro.
PPA said the improved and modernized PTB of the Port of Calapan, with a project cost of P353 million. can now serve up to 3,500 passengers at any time from the old terminal’s previous capacity of only 1,600.
Jay Santiago PPA general manager said the newly built facility will help address the anticipated surge in passenger volume during this coming Holy Week.
He added that during peak season, there are about 12,000 passengers who use the port every day, and sometimes those waiting are outside the old terminal, “so we hope that will not happen now because the capacity of the new Calapan PTB is bigger,” said Santiago.
According to Engr. Elvis Medalla, Port Manager of PPA Port Management Office Mindoro, passengers’ welfare was among the primary consideration in the construction of the new and modern PTB.
“This is really for the passengers of Calapan Port, it is apt that we give the pubic quality service and world class facilities that they can use while waiting for their trips,” said Medalla.
The new PTB is expected to provide great convenience to passengers in Calapan Port by making their trip more pleasant away from long queues experienced in the past holiday season.
The PTB expansion and renovation project at Calapan Port is part of the PPA’s initiative to make passenger travel more comfortable and improve the agency’s port service in the area.
The new PTB has a prayer room, an improved breastfeeding area, an all-gender restroom, and high-tech automated doors, escalators, and elevators that are a great help to passengers with special needs here.
The Port Management Office Mindoro which is in charge of the Port of Calapan said that on a regular day, the number of passengers at the port is around 3,000 to 4,000 and it is expected to increase this Holy Week.
The inauguration ceremony was spearheaded by PPA general manager Santiago, and Senator Christopher ‘Bong’ Go is the guest honor of the said event.
Also present at today’s inauguration are Governor Humerlito “Bonz” Dolor, Vice Governor Ejay Falcon, City Mayor Malou Morillo, City Vice Mayor Rommel Ignacion, and other government officials.
Recently, PPA has successfully inaugurated the Port Operations Building (POB) of Masbate and Coron, Palawan.
