TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, April 19 (PIA) -- The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has coursed through the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) some P2.3-B to fund four projects seen to improve mobility and connectivity of Bohol to other parts of the country.

DOTr Sec. Arthur Tugade, who personally flew in to officiate the formal turn-over of the 2nd Passenger Terminal Building (PTB II) of the Port of Tagbilaran, announced the good news and promised the completion of the said projects by the end of the term of Pres. Rodrigo Duterte.

"Regalo ni Presidente ito to show to the Filipinos and the Boholanos his love," Tugade said.

Tugade, who has also been credited for the completion and the operationalization of the Panglao Bohol International Airport, arrived in Bohol with PPA General Manager Jay Daniel Santiago.

"As I speak today, we have finalized four major projects that would cost P2.3 billion," he announced during the gathering at the new facility.

The projects, said Tugade, includes the P546-M construction of the cargo portion of the Port of Tagbilaran; construction of back-up and roll-on roll-off (RORO) ramps of the Port of Jagna; the P560-M construction of a back-up area and RORO ramps; and the wharf back-up area and completion of the RORO ramps of the Catagbacan Port.

The four projects that would have substantial completion by 2022 are part of the multi-billion completed and ongoing projects in Bohol.

DOTr and PPA have completed 15 seaport development projects in different parts of Bohol: Tagbilaran, Jagna, Tapal Wharf (Ubay), Ubay, Catagbacan (Loon), Tubigon, Talibon, Inabanga, Baclayon, and Aguinning (Carlos P. Garcia).

Meanwhile, DOTr and PPA are still implementing six more seaport projects that are ongoing in Maribojoc, Getafe, Buenavista, and Bien Unido.

For Bohol's commercial ports, DOTr and PPA are developing the Port of Maribojoc and converting it into a container port.

To date, the port improvement project is at 95.095 percent as of March 2021.

The Port of Getafe project includes the construction of back-up area which is now at 42.550 percent completed as of March 2021.

For the Port of Tagbilaran, PPA is implementing the construction of additional fastcraft berth which is now at 90.614 percent as of March 2021.

This is set to be completed in May 2021.

For the Port of Tubigon, projects include the construction of back-up area with continuous RORO Ramp and is now 42.55 percent completed as of March 2021.

The project is set to be finished in July 2022.

As to Bohol's social tourism ports, up on the list is Brgy. Asinan Port in Buenavista which includes the repair of damaged causeway and construction of passenger shed which is now at 46 percent completion rate in March 2021.

In Bien Unido, the port of Bien Unido project includes the construction of causeway which is now at 8.43 percent, and is set for completion by February 2021.

"This month, I will finish Maribojoc Port, or at least have it operational by May and latest in June," he said.

On this, he urged Boholanos to take care of these vital infrastructure that would connect Bohol to its neigboring islands.

"Take care and use the gifts properly so many could still use this for a long time," he urged. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)