Teo (right) witnesses the signing of MoU between Palawan State University and Jesselton College.
KOTA KINABALU: The State Economic Planning Unit (EPU) is pushing to expedite federal allocation to build a ramp for use by a roll-on roll-off (ro-ro) ferry service that will link the Borneo Island and Philippines, said Minister of Special Tasks Datuk Teo Chee Kang.
Once this project is realized, Teo said the people from southern Borneo, Kalimantan and Brunei could drive to Kudat and utilize the ro-ro ferry service to Palawan, and subsequently board another ferry to Manila.
He said State EPU officers were pushing hard to obtain the federal allocation, where they had written several times as well as met with their federal officers in Putrajaya.
Nonetheless, Teo said sea cargo transportation was already in place while awaiting for the ramp project to be implemented.
On the other hand, Teo said the economy in Puerto Princesa, capital of Palawan, was thriving.
There are 24 flights connecting Palawan and Manila weekly, and many American, Korean and Japanese tourists are regular visitors of Palawan, he said.
Teo said Kinabalu National Park in Sabah and Tubbataha Reef in Palawan, both World Heritage Sites, was merely one and a half hours apart from each other.
“It can be a unique selling point if these scenic attractions are bundled into a single package.”
Teo added that MASwings had introduced thrice weekly flights from Kota Kinabalu to Palawan since September last year, and the flight frequency was expected to be increased to five times weekly in June.
On that note, Teo said Sabah and Palawan should share their resources and establish stronger collaborative ties for mutual benefit.
He noted that Palawan was striving to eradicate poverty and he suggested that the poverty eradication programme in Sabah could be of reference.
The overall poverty rate in Sabah was 19.3 per cent in 2009, and the figure dropped to 8.1 per cent in 2012.
The poverty rates in rural and urban areas have also decreased from 32.8 per cent and 9.8 per cent to 12.9 per cent and 5.3 per cent respectively during the same period.
Teo said this when hosting a welcoming dinner for the delegation from Palawan, led by Governor Jose Alvare here, last Friday.
Meanwhile, Alvare hoped that the ramp for a ro-ro service could be implemented early next year.
Alvare and Teo also witnessed the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for education collaboration between Palawan State University and Jesselton College.
The MoU entailed the emphasis on student and staff exchange programmes, workplace industry placements and education programme exchanges.