And we are rearing to get back to more tourism. Latest announcement from the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) indicate that Coron, Palawan will soon be having a port that can accommodate Cruise Ships. It has already an approved budget of P425.1 million and will have its home at Barangay Tagumpay.

Bidding is now open and deadline is set on May 11. Interested bidders, who should have completed a similar project, must submit to the Bids and Awards Committee secretariat at the PPA office in Manila or before 9 a.m. of that date. The Cruise Ship Port will rise in 540 calendar days from the receipt of notice to proceed give or take.

Palawan is a beneficiary of completed three port projects last year: the Port of San Fernando, El Nido, the Port of Bataraza in Barangay Buliluyan and Borac Port in Coron and nationwide 31 more port projects should be completed by June 30, hopefully.

Arthur P. Tugade who is the Transportation Secretary commented that the project “will bring convenience and comfort not only to the people of Palawan, but more importantly to the people of the Philippines and also to the people of ASEAN.”

A total of 585 port projects, large and small have been completed since 2016. This could be a version of Build, Build, Build of Port, Port, Port. Good news for Coron and Palawan.