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Bantayan Island’s Santa Fe port is set to accommodate cruise ships as part of its ongoing improvement project, according to the Cebu Port Authority
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The port improvement project, now in Phases 1 and 2 of its four-phase construction, is slated for completion next year
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The P500 million project will have a total length of 350 meters with a proposal for additional berthing areas for ferries and roll-on/roll-off vessels
Bantayan Island’s Santa Fe port is set to accommodate cruise ships as part of its ongoing improvement project, according to the Cebu Port Authority (CPA).
CPA general manager Francisco Comendador III said Cebu governor Gwendolyn Garcia recommended adding a finger wharf to accommodate international cruise ships to boost the island’s tourism, seen as a “game-changer” for the island.
The port upgrade, currently in its first two of four construction phases, is scheduled for completion next year. With an initial budget of at least P500 million, the project will extend the port’s length to approximately 350 meters.
Garcia also proposed adding more berthing areas to accommodate additional ferries and roll-on/roll-off vessels.
Comendador and the contractors welcomed the governor’s suggestion and confirmed it would be included in the final design of the port.
Upon completion, the new port will be managed and operated by the Cebu Provincial Government under an agreement with the CPA.
Environmental studies have identified the port’s existing rock causeway as a factor in the uneven distribution of Santa Fe’s fine sand. The construction of a reinforced concrete deck will allow water and sand to flow freely beneath the causeway, addressing environmental concerns and enhancing Santa Fe’s beaches.
In conjunction with the port improvements, the provincial government has partnered with King Aces Travel and Tours Service Inc. to launch flights to Bantayan Island starting August 28.
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