House Deputy Minority Leader and Basilan Representative Mujiv Hataman on Monday announced that a section of the Isabela City Port has been opened to the public to accommodate a Roll-on-Roll-off type of vessel coming from Zamboanga City.
The P382 million port has been under construction for six years now and remains non-operational, but a portion of it is now operational a week after Hataman inspected the port's accomplishment.
"It is now operational except for some sections of the port where they are still working for completion," said Hataman. "I am happy that the port is longer congested of people with the opening of another ro-ro vessel docking site where they can unload its passengers."
Hataman also revealed that after the construction of the port, the terminal buildings inside the port will also undergo a renovation to make it bigger.
"What I am still worried about is the repair of the port terminal, but Philippine Ports general manager Jay Daniel R. Santiago had promised me they will improve it to meet the demand of arrival and departing passengers from Isabela city," the House deputy minority leader said.
He also reminded the contractor of the port to comply with their commitment to complete and make the port fully-operational by November.
"Just complete the construction of the port this year, what we are after is to make the port operational to cater to the influx of passengers coming in and out of Isabela City," Hataman said.
"It is necessary for the port terminal to expand because the port is hosting the arrival of about 4,000 passengers in and out of Isabela City daily," he added.