San fernando: Trade and tourism in the Ilocos Region will get a boost with the development and improvement of the San Fernando International Seaport in Poro Point, La Union. Poro Point Management Corp. president and chief executive officer Servillano Flores Jr. said there is an ongoing feasibility project for the Poro Point international seaport, targeted to be implemented by mid-2027.
According to Philippines News Agency, Flores highlighted the strategic advantage of Poro Point, noting its proximity to China compared to other ports. "We are glad that we are now getting this attention. Poro Point was used to be referred as the sleeping dragon because of its potential. Its advantage is, it is one day away from China. Subic port is four days away, and Manila port is seven days away," he said in a phone interview. He emphasized that Poro Point's strategic location enhances its potential for trade and commerce due to its shorter and more direct route.
Once operational, the upgraded seaport is anticipated to become a crucial economic gateway supporting regional industries. San Fernando City tourism operations assistant Bella Reyna Corazon Gambueda, in a separate interview, mentioned that interest from cruise ships to dock in the city via Poro Point is already evident. She noted that the project, once completed, would significantly enhance tourism and trade in San Fernando City and other parts of La Union.
"Our target is 2027. But it still depends on the preparation of our ports. We are doing our best to make it faster. And to accommodate more tourists from, of course, not just here in the Philippines but, of course, from other countries," Gambueda said. In preparation for this development, the local government is actively training community guides and encouraging establishments to obtain accreditation from the Department of Tourism (DOT) to standardize services.
Gambueda also shared that initial data projects the number of day tourists in the city to reach 152,000 by 2025. "We are preparing them to be DOT-accredited to standardize all services here in the city. We are ready, it's just a matter of pooling and gathering our resources. We have resources here in the city," she added.
