BUCAS GRANDE, Surigao del Norte, Philippines – To boost the tourism, fishing and aqua-marine industries as well as agricultural sectors, concerned line agencies of the government spearheaded by the provincial government of Surigao del Norte are joining hands to build a R500 million nautical highway project in the “paradise island” of Siargao and mainland Surigao del Norte in northeastern Mindanao, it was learned yesterday.

Gov. Sol F. Matugas and Surigao del Norte Representatives Francisco T. Matugas (1st district) and Guillermo Romarate, Jr., together with island and mainland mayors, are pushing for the construction of the nautical highway project, saying this will spur the tourism industry in the Siargao Islands and nearby areas.

Led by the National Economic Development Authority - Caraga Regional Project Monitoring Committee (NEDA-RPMC) together with the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Second Surigao del Norte Engineering District Office and RPMC are already closely coordinating and validating the proposed project with the provincial government of Surigao del Norte.

In fact, the RPMC’s technical group and concerned line agencies of the government have started discussing the proposed nautical highway project that will connect mainland Surigao, Bucas Grande Island to Siargao Island.

Based on the proposal, the project will begin in Barangay Jayanggabon, Claver town with the construction of a new Roro port that will approximately cost R250 million. A complementary Roro port in Barangay Doña Helene, Socorro, Bucas Grande Island will also be constructed costing around R100-150 million as per evaluation of PPA consultants.