THE Cavite barge terminal, privately funded by International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI), is set to begin full operations next month, the Department of Transportation (DoTr) said on Friday.
In a statement, the DoTr said the Cavite Gateway Terminal (CGT) will open on Nov. 5 for cargo trans-shipments via barges and roll-on, roll-off (RoRo) operations.
“Madalas congested ang mga kalsada na papunta sa mga port, at ito ang magiging solusyon dyan [Most of the time the roads going to ports are congested, and this will be the solution to that]. This project is also proof that when the government and the private sector work together, beautiful things can happen,” Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade said in the statement.
The DoTr said CGT has been conducting a dry run since September, but limited to barge operations. ICTSI said in an email interview in July the project has already been completed.
“The project is completed, and we have successfully simulated the receipt and delivery of containers via barge and trucks. We are just confirming date of formal inauguration,” the port operator said then.
After the inauguration next month, CGT is expected to help cut costs and time in transporting goods and people between Cavite and ports in Luzon.
The barge terminal has a capacity of 115,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), aimed to reduce truck trips by approximately 140,000 every year.
“Passenger ferry services from Cavite to Manila and vice-versa will also be made available in the future following discussions between the government and the operator,” the DoTr added. — Denise A. Valdez

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