by Jocelyn P. Alvarez
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Feb. 08 (PIA 9) - - Foreign travelers on foreign vessel making their “stop” or “call” at the Zamboanga City port will soon have their separate passengers’ terminal, revealed the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) Port Manager Leonilo E. Miole.
Miole said the construction of a travelers’ hub passenger terminal for foreign vessels is intended to give these “short time” foreign visitors a bit of comfort while they are here in the city.
At Present, both domestic and foreign travelers utilize the port’s Terminal II.
Once finished, the said terminal will also house certain government bureaus and department to include the Bureau of Quarantine; Bureau of Immigration, Department of Foreign Affairs and Customs International Quarantine Security, Miole informed.
Miole said the purpose of the presence of these government offices in the terminal itself is to facilitate concerned transactions and hasten processing of travel papers/documents.
With the foreseen emergence of the terminal for foreign travelers, Miole hopes that there will be an increase in the number of foreign vessels that are making stops/calls at the PPA.
PPA recorded 29 foreign vessels that have made call at the port in 2011, a slight decrease as compared to 33 foreign vessels recorded in 2010.
The foreign passengers’ terminal project is now in the process of bidding, Miole said. (JPA/ PIA –ZBST)