Expansion of newly-rehab Glan port proposed

GLAN, Sarangani (December 21, 2008) - To further develop the emerging cross-border trading and people mobility between JAGS-CT (Jose AbadSantos-Glan-Sarangani Cooperation Triangle) member municipalities andIndonesia, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is proposing additional three phases expansion of the newly-rehabilitated Glan Port over the next nine months.

This is a follow-through activity from its P20M repair and rehabilitation job which President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo inaugurated on December 17.

The repair job completed in April this year consisted of demolition ofthe existing reinforced concrete wharf, the driving of new piles to strengthen its bearing capacity and the wharf's superstructure.

Glan Mayor Enrique Yap Jr. said expansion of the port would enhance economic activity thru the exchange of local trade within the neighboring JAGS municipalities and Bitung, Indonesia.

JAGS-CT and Bitung formalized a sisterhood agreement in 2006 to foster better relations and cooperation.

The port expansion would include the extension of 30 meters on the left side, the Roll on-Roll off (RoRo) ramp at the right side and the repair of the existing causeway.

Mayor Yap said the RoRo ramp was proposed due to the existing RoRo ramp also of the Port of Mabila, Sarangani, Davao del Sur to provide linkage between these two towns thru the expanded Strong Republic Nautical Highway.

This would offer efficient port facilities as the future expansion,according to Yap, also includes the construction of the PPA field office, the establishment of a perimeter fence and the main entrancegate.

Yap saw the advantage of his municipality being the trading point since Glan is much nearer to Indonesia.

The prioritization to develop Glan Port came after JAGS officials called on President Arroyo in 2005 to support the improvement of Glan Port and to declare the same as Limited International Port.

A trade link was established the following year and a maiden voyage of a vessel carrying commercial goods from Glan was sent off to Tahunaand Bitung, Indonesia. (Beverly C. Paoyon/SARANGANI INFORMATIONOFFICE)