By Aira Magdayao
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY – The provincial government here is waiting for arrival of the FastCat roll-on, roll-off (RORO) ferry vessel of Archipelago Philippine Ferries Corporation (APFC) from Batangas port to San Fernando port in El Nido that would boost economic development in the province.
Governor Jose Chaves Alvarez said Friday that the ports in Batangas and El Nido were all set for the operation of the vessel that would connect Palawan to nearby provinces.
However, the contractor has not yet turned over the port in El Nido to the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) who will handle the operation.
“We are all set to operate. However, I think the contractor has not yet turned over the facility to the PPA,” Alvarez said during the media forum at the provincial capitol.
He said the operation of the FastCat was part of the plans of provincial government that would link Palawan with the rest of the Mimaropa (Mindoro Islands, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan) by speeding up passenger transfer and boosting the movement of products and goods.
The FastCat M15 is a ferry vessel that was designed in Australia by Sea Transport Solutions, and built in a shipyard in Hong Kong that can travel from Batangas to El Nido.
The ferry can accommodate 361 passengers.