2 senatorial bets support reopening of Port of Aparri


CAGAYAN -- Two senatorial candidates in the May 9, 2022 elections are supporting Governor Manuel Mamba's vision to reopen the Port of Aparri.

The Cagayan Provincial Information Office said former Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary John Castriciones and former Ifugao Governor Teddy Baguilat expressed this during their visit to Cagayan province.

Photo courtesy of CPIO via Liezle Basa Inigo

The reopening of Aparri Port is expected to open up the international trade potential of Cagayan to countries such as South Korea, China, Japan and Taiwan and boost the province's economic growth.

Castriciones said the port will be helpful to the province once trade commences for the local products of farmers in Cagayan with other countries such as China and Taiwan.

Baguilat said once the vessels enter the Cagayan River through the Port of Aparri, they will be able to export their products.

In June 2020, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the provincial government of Cagayan have started collaborating on the development of the Aparri Port and the tributary along the Cagayan River.

Mamba said President Duterte has ordeted the rehabilitation of river channels and the reopening of the Aparri Port as he sees the potential of the two projects in promoting economic activity in the province.

Castriciones is running under the Aksyon Demokratiko party while Baguilat is on the senatorial slate of the Liberal Party.