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NEW PORT. A new port in Negros Occidental town is seen to boost both the local tourism and sugar industries on Negros and Panay islands.
MPSA
The new port will cut travel time between Negros and Panay islands
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines – A P180-million port opened on Saturday, February 1, after years of delays, positioning itself as a key link in the Negros-Panay corridor.
Located in Barangay Punta Salong, the Manapla port is the 12th in Negros Occidental and is expected to boost tourism and the sugar industry. The new port, built by Manapla Port Stevedoring and Arastre Estate, will connect the province to the ports of Ajuy and Concepcion in Iloilo, with roll-on/roll-off vessel operations set to begin in April.
The new port will cut travel time between Negros and Panay islands and provide Iloilo sugar planters with an alternative milling option in Negros Occidental, home to Asia’s largest sugar refinery.
Sea travel from Manapla to Ajuy and Concepcion via a roll-on/roll-off vessel will take only 45 and 55 minutes, respectively.
The first to benefit is the Negros-Panay tourism corridor, which features the famed Lakawon Island Resort in Cadiz City, Carbin Reef and Suyac Island in Sagay City – all in Negros Occidental – and Isla de Gigantes, Sicogon Island, and Pan de Azucar Island in Carles and Concepcion, Iloilo.
Sicogon Island, one of the priciest tourism destinations in Western Visayas, has its own airstrip for light passenger aircraft and was the filming location of the 1970s movie Pinakamagandang Hayop sa Balat ng Lupa, starring 1969 Miss Universe Gloria Diaz and the late Vic Vargas.
Carles town, home to Sicogon and Isla de Gigantes, is 41.9 kilometers from Concepcion port and 55.1 kilometers from Ajuy port.
Moreover, the Manapla-Ajuy and Manapla-Concepcion sea routes will shorten land travel from Iloilo to Boracay in Malay, Aklan, to only four hours, reducing the usual five- to six-hour trip from Iloilo City by an hour and a half.
Aside from boosting tourism, the Manapla port is expected to benefit the sugar industry.
Panay Island – comprising Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, and Antique – has only one operational sugar mill, in President Roxas, Capiz.
With the Manapla-Ajuy and Manapla-Concepcion sea routes, sugar planters in Iloilo may opt to mill their sugarcane in Negros sugar mills, such as Victorias Milling Company (VMC), Asia’s largest sugar refinery, said Manapla Mayor Manuel Escalante III.
In the nearby Sagay City, two operational sugar mills – Lopez and Bato sugar centrals – also process sugarcane.
The Manapla port will also complement the newly established Sagay City Economic Ecozone and VMC’s Manapla distillery plant in Barangay Purisima.
“Definitely, the Manapla port, which we attempted to build twice, will rake in millions of pesos for our local economy and the entire province as well,” Escalante told a press briefing.
Alfredo Luis Sarrosa, MPSA’s top executive, said an area adjacent to the Manapla port has been reserved for the Negros Yacht Club, making yacht sailing between Negros and Panay more exciting. – Rappler.com
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