PhilFAQS

CAWAYAN PORT, Masbate — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo sent off on Monday the roll-on roll-off (Ro-Ro) ferry that was on its maiden voyage from this port, but did not board it.

The Super Shuttle Ferry 12 was the third ferry she sent off for the day as part of the Ro-Ro caravan to promote anew the Strong Philippines Nautical Highway that linked various islands in the country from Luzon to Mindanao…. more of the article here.

What the heck is Ro-Ro and why do you care?  Well, here’s a picture of one that I like, taken by a friend of mine during one of his drives from one end of the Philippines to the other.  Drive?  Where there are no roads or bridges between islands?  yep.  Roll on-Roll off ferries provide the answer.  Another friend, Bob Martin, put up a nice video of a trip he makes almost daily on a smaller Ro-Ro.  It’s well worth watching if you aren’t familiar with this form of transportation.

One of the things the Philippines needs is more tourism.  An often over-looked resource is internal tourism.  Filipinos themselves and folks who live or visit here.  You can get almost anywhere you want to … but you often have to really do some digging to find out how.

As of now, there’s no central source a person can go to find out about inter-island ferries.  I sincerely hope one becomes available soon.  For now, keep in mind you can go places by car, even if you have to make a lot of local inquiries, and it can be a really fun way to travel. The Philippines Nautical Highway … something you won’t see every day you sit at home, wondering.

Here’s a map I threw together just to show how long a trip you can make using roads, bridges and Ro-Ro.  I’ll be glad to add more information if folks want to forward it to me.