by BA Recebido
Sorsogon Province (September 24) -- The Development Bank of the Philippines Maritime Leasing Corporation (D[BP]MLC) is facilitating deployment of Roll-On Roll-Off (RoRo) vessels, particularly in RORO missionary routes through the acquisition of safe and suitable ships, either second hand or through local construction, for lease to qualified operators under financial or operating lease arrangements for the Road RoRo Terminal System (RRTS) and Strong Republic Nautical Highway (SRNH). Angelita S. Villarosa, DMLC senior vice-president for finance, told participants in a forum held here recently to venture on leasing vessel industry saying that DMLC can pump-prime RoRo business that local investors would enter into using their inherent talents and skills as well as the RoRo marine vessels facilities available.
Among the Bicol linkages that the DMLC has identified and prioritized for the RoRo missionary routes are: Pilar, Sorsogon to Aroroy, Masbate with a distance of 30 nautical miles (NM) or three hours travel time; Pasacao, Camarines Sur to San Pascual, Burias Island with 23 NM distance or 2.3 hrs travel time and Pio Duran, Albay to Claveria Burias Island with 12 NM distance or 1.2 hrs travel time.
Villarosa said that in the proposed route, investors can venture on consumer goods, construction supplies, bottled goods, cattle/livestock and passengers as well for the RoRo activities.
She also explained that RoRo vessel operators can have a full recovery of investment within 10–11 years only, "not too long for a good investment with a very good profit," she added.
Other services DMLC offers aside from leasing are route assessment/advisory services and technical assistance.
"DBP–MLC targets an additional 20 brand new and 26 second hand second hand vessels to its current fleet within the period of 2009–2013 under the government's Strong Republic Nautical Highway project," she said.
In general, the country has 46 routes with 34 missionary routes and 12 developed routes.
Missionary routes refer to areas that are not deemed commercially viable at first but are eventually seen to generate sufficient traffic.
Bicol region now has four existing RoRo route namely Lucena to Masbate City, Pilar, Sorsogon to Masbate City, Matnog, Sorsogon to Allen, Samar and Catanduanes to Tabaco, Albay.
The vessel acquisition program consolidates the national government's efforts to hasten the development of missionary routes, and optimize the benefits of the Strong Republic Nautical Highway program, that aims to bring down costs of inter-island shipment of goods and passengers.
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