7 new RoRo routes to open this year

At least seven new routes for the Roll-On Roll-Off (RoRo) System are set to open within year after Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo prodded authorities to explore more pathways for the transport system.

This development came during the oversight Committee on Transportation meeting to discuss the issues of the RoRo system in Cebu City.

The meeting, chaired by House Committee on Transportation chair Cesar Sarmiento, was conducted to find ways to make the transport of food and other items efficient, and eventually, bring down the prices of goods through the RoRo system.

During the hearing, the Maritime Industry Authority revealed that at least seven new RoRo routes will be opened this year following Arroyo's urging. Several companies, the agency said, have applied to service them after the Philippine Ports Authority publicized the new routes.

The committee earlier found that there were several unserved routes in the system.

In an interview, Arroyo pointed out that the RoRo system was established in order to bring down the cost of transporting food from Mindanao to Visayas and Luzon.

But testimonies made during the hearing showed that except for those using ten-wheeler trucks, transporting goods through the RoRo system is more expensive than through conventional methods.

Logistics, weighing methods, lack of reefer vans and trucker fees contribute to the high-cost transport of goods through the RoRo system.

For one, exorbitant fees are being collected for the use of weighing scales. In order to address this, Arroyo asked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to take over the operation of weighing scales using its own equipment.

“We will try to have another hearing to find out if the DPWH can be the one to take over the weighing,” Arroyo said.

Aside from this, the panel also discussed the supposed unavailability of reefer vans for perishable goods which causes the high-cost of transporting items.

During the hearing, however, it was revealed that there is actually an excess of reefer vans for this purpose.

Moreover, it was also reported that there are compartmentalized reefer vans that may be used by farmers. Arroyo urged the Department of Agriculture to make this information available to farmers so that they can avail of the facility.

The committee is set to conduct another oversight meeting to discuss other issues on the RORO system, including the fees imposed by the truckers. —LDF, GMA News