The RORO project which was initiated and started during the term of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has been a driver of connectivity and the economy. That is basically, a highway connecting people and goods via the sea. It has served and has become an integral driver of the economy connectivity wise. Like any other highways though, sometimes it gets congested because of several factors. The usual weather disturbances and holidays and at times mandatory maintenance of vessels contribute to the massive and severe congestions.

However, these days the congestion is never ending. I would like to mention the Dumangas and Bacolod RORO terminals. The daily traffic of massive cargo trucks and private vehicles are in the uptrend since then that today the one-way waiting time for cargo trucks is reaching a minimum of three days and five to six hours for private vehicles. Thus a two-way waiting time is about 10 hours.

The long waiting time is becoming unbearable. Converted to losses, such translates to several hundred thousand pesos or perhaps millions of pesos. Imagine a supply line altered or delayed because of late arrivals of needed materials due to erratic schedule of transportation. As for private vehicles, people do not just bring their cars for comfort. Its usually business, important personal matters and during weekends roaming around the region for purposes of leisure. Take note, leisure is the tourism industry’s bread winner which is of course one of the thrusts of the RORO project initiated by the government.

At any given day, the long wait is too much these days. Yet it’s as if the authorities are blind about the situation on the ground. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) are doing mandatory inspections on every boat and the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) its regulating and administrative body receives reports and conducts inspections on a regular basis yet nothing has been elevated to the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) so that the situation could be remedied.

I suppose every traveler, private or cargo would agree that there is a problem. Either it’s the shortage or lack of cargo vessels plying the route vice versa or the system that should be implemented is lacking or problematic.

Imagine seven roro vessels travelling vice versa in a two hour and a half interval and loading only eight cargo trucks and five private vehicles. The vehicles on standby on one port has reached 100 units for trucks and 100 units for private cars. Then, when it reaches its port of destination the units on standby are not enough to fill in their bays. The captain decides to wait delaying their departure for at least two hours. On the other side of the region, the vehicles keep on increasing. This situation will now create an unnatural delay.

It now calls a system overhaul on the part of MARINA and DOTC. When will these agencies step-in and do their share in managing the situation or proposing a workable system? They cannot just leave the matter on the hands of the roro operators. This is of course discounting the favored vehicles like those of the Philippine National Police (PNP), PCG and other armed units who would arrive late and embark first.

The situation of the roro operations in Western Visayas now needs a review and immediate action otherwise it will stay that way or even worsen which may eventually result to serious problems in the days to come.