By Genivi Factao

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) yesterday said that their investment to the Super region flagship project of the administration, also known as the SONA ports, from 2005 to this year has already amounted to about P3 billion.

The SONA ports are being developed and upgraded in fulfillment of the president's 10 point legacy agenda of establishing a nationwide system of port/RORO links for more effective national transportation network.

PPA general manager Oscar Sevilla also said the agency has gone a step further in terms of fulfilling the ecotourism program of the government in areas where they have been constructed.

"(We are) making a significant dent in terms of reduction in logistic costs through the sheer breadth and depth of their coverage, like going as far North as Basco Batanes through the famed El Nido in Palawan and Sindangan in Southern Mindanao," he said.

The main development is focused on the North Luzon agri business quadrangle, Central Philippines region and North Luzon beltway region.

"(We) bring the beltway to the West, we will connect Subic Clark-Tarlac road to Dinagalan port through Nueva Ecija and the Marikina -Infanta road to Port of Real," PPA said.

The state controlled agency undergo rock causeway, construction of RORO ramp, R.C. pier and R.C. platform as well as passenger terminal building for Dingalan Port.

"We will bring the Masbate and Biliran into the Roro eastern nautical highway from Surigao through Leyte through Naval and Maripipi in Biliran through Ezperanza, Aroroy and Burias Island in Masbate and on to Bicol," it added.

18 ports are also having undergoing various developments such as construction of wharf, drainage system, reclamation, port lighting system and construction of passenger terminal building.

For Northway Luzon beltway, PPA said they "will build a roll-on, roll-off facility to link Lucena, Quezon to Boac, Marinduque like the Batangas-Mindoro RORO".

Major projects in 8 SONA ports were undertaken in Dingalan port in Aurora of the North Luzon Agri business quadrangle, Batangas port of the North Luzon beltway and the ports of Cawayan, Pantao, Maasin, Jagna, Davao and Cagayan de Oro of the Central Philippines Region.