PGMA's Remarks during a Briefing on the Plan to Open the 2nd Routh of the "Strong Republic Nautical Highway"

Dynasty Court Hotel Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental (16 June 2003)
Whereas, by virtue of E.O. No. 170, a new policy promoting the Participation of and investment by the private sector, and the development of the road roll-on/roll-off terminal system was established;

Whereas under E.O. No. 170, the Roll-on/Roll-off terminal system is defined is the network of terminals all over the country separated by a distance of not more than 50 nautical miles and link by roll-on/roll-off vessels;

Whereas there's a need to expand the coverage of the roll on/roll-off terminal system to include long haul RO-RO vessels so as to further support the agri-fisheries modernization and food security programs of the government and to reduce the cost of inter-island transportation.

Now, therefore, I, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo do hereby order Section 1. Section 1 sub-paragraph 'C' of Executive Order No. 170 dated January 22, 2003 is hereby amended to read as follows: "Road Roll-on/Roll-off terminal system shall refer to the network of terminals all over the country regardless of the distance covered and link by roll-on/roll-off vessels."

And Section 2. Section 3 of Executive Order No. 170 is hereby amended by adding thereto a new paragraph which shall read as follows: "The RRTS toll shall be applicable to all self-powered vehicles loaded and discharge on their own wheels by their owners or drivers between vessel and shore by a ramp and all vessels to the extent that they are actually engage in RO-RO operations."

Section 3. The DOTC and the DTI are hereby directed to formulate and submit for the approval of the president an incentive program for RO-RO vessel and terminal operators in pioneering missionary developmental or under develop routes or links.

Section 4. Within 15 days after the effectivity of this E.O., the RO-RO shall, after due consultation, issue the revised implementing rules and regulations for E.O. No. 170 as amended.

This Executive Order shall take place... Shall take effect immediately upon approval. I signed this June 9, 2003.

What is the meaning of this Executive Order? Siguro nahibalo na ninyo nga naa kita karon bag-o nga Roll-on/Roll-off Nautical Highway gikan sa Dapitan hangtod sa Batangas City. Busa ang mga ani sa pag-uuma gikan didto sa Western Mindanao makaabot na karon sa luzon na menos ang gastos sa transportasyon, apan ang Western Mindanao dili ma-apil sa iyang benepisyo ang uban nga ma... Ug mas daghan nga mga lugar diri sa Mindanao.

Ang pinaka- importante sa tanan kung gusto nato nga hapit tanan ang mang-uuma ug mangingisda sa mindanao makaabot ang ilahang produkto sa Luzon sa menos nga gastos sa transportasyon kinahanglan magikan sa Cagayan de Oro ang Roll-on/Roll-off ferry.

Busa kining akong Executive Order agi sa kining akong Executive Order, masugod na sa Cagayan de Oro hangtod sa Batangas ang Roll-on/Roll-off ferry trip. Ug bisan magikan sa Bukidnon o magikan pa sa Davao ang mga produkto karon less than 36 hours na ang tibuok biyahe sa mga produkto kay dili na mag-load ug unload gihapon ang mga produkto usa ka truck na ra ang truck mismo mobiyahe sa sulod sa ferry hangtod sa Batangas, hangtod sa merkado sa Luzon asa tua ang two-thirds sa palengke sa tibuok Pilipinas.

And so, I hope that with this executive order, we will be having a better cargo rates for the products of Mindanao to the rest of the market.

So, congratulations kaninyong tanan ug unta magamit ug atong mang-uuma kining mga benepisyo sa aton bag-o nga Executive Order.

Daghang salamat kaninyong tanan.

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