Legazpi City set as cruise ship destination

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) has approved funding for the construction of a billion-peso facility to make Legazpi City an international passenger cruise terminal under a public-private partnership (PPP) project.

Mark Lapid, TIEZA general manager and chief operating officer, said the project has been coordinated with TIEZA after Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. approved the project’s proposal, study and design.

The P400-million funding from TIEZA aims to jump-start the construction of the cruise terminal project along the Legazpi City Boulevard in Barangay Dapdap here.

The project involves the construction of a seaport that can accommodate a 300-meter long tourist cruise ship.

The Philippine Ports Authority said the standard size of an international cruise ship is from 250 to 300 meters.

Mayor Noel Rosal said that if the project is completed five years from now, Legazpi will be the second city – after Tagbilaran City in Bohol – to have an international cruise terminal.

TIEZA is an attached agency of the DOT which is mandated to develop, manage and supervise tourism infrastructure projects in the country.

Lapid said this project is really good for Albay and for Bicol region as a whole because it is a package deal for tourism and Albay is making strides as an aggressive tourism destination in the country.