P33m Bataan port project ready for bid

ORION, Bataan — The Philippine Port Authority (PPA) has scheduled the bidding for the construction of the P33 million terminal complex Orion Port which is to be renamed Diosdado Macapagal Port Terminal in Barangay Puting Buhangin here.

Mayor Antonio Raymundo said the terminal complex will be built on a 3 hectare property and the facility, which will be designed by the Palafox architecture firm, is expected to be finished in three months time.

The mayor said Rep. Albert Garcia attended to the funding of the project and made the development of the port as one of his priority projects.

The port opened in 1998, ferry services was offered by Samat Ferries, owned by former consul Eddie de Guzman, a native of Samal town.

The Samat company, however, shut down operations in the first week of January, after it increased its fare to P300. But ferry operations are expected to resume on Friday by two new ferry companies, Prestige and Sun Cruise.

The ferry ride from Orion to the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) in Manila is just 45 minutes.

Businessmen said the modern port complex will further hasten the development of the province and boost the local economy. Butch Gunio, Manila Standard