- The Port of Sta. Teresa in Magsaysay, Occidental Mindoro will be turned over to local government in April
- Operations should start thereafter
- Port construction has been stalled since 2011
- Work restarted at the beginning of 2021 and completed in August 2021
The expanded Port of Sta. Teresa in Magsaysay, Occidental Mindoro will be turned over by the Philippine Ports Authority to the local government unit in April, according to Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade.
Construction at the port has been stalled since 2011. Work was restarted at the beginning of 2021 and completed in August 2021, said Tugade during the inauguration of the port’s passenger terminal building on March 24.
The transport chief added the Magsaysay, Occidental Mindoro local government should be able to operate the port soon after. The port is expected to boost connectivity with other tourism destinations and ultimately help improve the local economy.
Tugade said he is pushing for approval of a permit for vessels to ply Sta. Teresa, Boracay Island, Caticlan and Coron, Palawan.
Occidental Mindoro lone district Representative Josephine Sato thanked Tugade, Philippine Ports Authority general manager Jay Santiago and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines director general Jim Sydiongco for helping the local government address problems in transportation infrastructure, such as in the Port of Abra de Ilog and San Jose Airport in Occidental Mindoro.
The Port of Abra de Ilog, the province’s main port, is now undergoing expansion, Sato said.
