KUDAT: Construction of a ramp for a roll-on-roll-off (RORO) service linking Kudat to Brooke’s Point in the province of Palawan, Philippines is expected to commence in mid 2015.
Minister of Special Tasks Datuk Teo Chee Kang said the sea linkage would boost tourism and trade activities between Palawan and Kudat once the ramp was completed.
The Tanjung Kapor assemblyman said this after visiting the Customs, Immigration, Quarantine and Security (CIQS) centre here on Tuesday.
Teo said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had announced the setup of the CIQS centre during his visit to Kudat in October 2013.
The CIQS centre initially operated from a container office but it has now moved into the Kudat Port Authority building.
“The CIQS centre in Kudat has been fully operational since last year,” Teo informed.
Teo believes the RORO service will strengthen security between Palawan and Kudat, particularly the safety of tourists and traders once it starts to operate.
At the same time, Teo said the service would spur tourism and trade developments at both sides.
In addition, he said the CIQS centre would solve the shortage of foreign workers as they would have to enter Kudat via an official entry point and wait to be employed.
Teo also expressed his satisfaction after being briefed by CIQS officers on the operations of the centre.
Also present was Tanjung Kapor Community Development Leader Datuk Peter Chin Kee Yong.