SIMIC

THE US government-supported roll-on/roll off shipping service that will promote economic growth and stability in by reducing travel time and transport costs, say American officials in Manila.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), supported the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) government's launch of a roll-on/roll off shipping service linking Polloc Port in Parang, Maguindanao to Lamitan, Basilan.


Led by the BARMM Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC), in partnership with the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) and USAID, the ferry service will cut travel time between Cotabato and Zamboanga by at least six hours and reduce transportation costs by as much as 30 per cent.


Through its Regulatory Reform Support Programme for National Development (RESPOND) project implemented by the University of the Philippines Public Administration Research and Extension Services Foundation, USAID supported the development of the BARMM RORO shipping service by training BARMM officials and staff on infrastructure development and facilitating a series of multi-stakeholder workshops that enabled private sector support for maritime connectivity in the region.


"Strengthening maritime trade routes and intermodal transport systems will open doors for more trade and investment in the region, including in the tourism industry," said USAID Philippines mission director Ryan Washburn.


BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim, represented at the launch by Maguindanao del Norte Governor Abdulraof Macacua, expressed his full support to the initiative which he described as "a manifestation that the peace accord is succeeding".