MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) inaugurated the country’s “biggest” port passenger terminal building at the port of Cagayan de Oro in Misamis Oriental on Monday, July 15.

The busiest port in Northern Mindanao now has a two-story terminal that has a floor area of 5,597 square meters, or about half a hectare. It can accommodate 3,000 passengers, or triple its original capacity.

The DOTr said that the terminal now has security checkpoints with x-ray scanners for baggage, body scanners, CCTVs, passenger boarding stations, a collector’s booth, and a public assistance desk.

It also houses storage rooms and offices for passenger-related agencies such as quarantine, tourist police, and the Coast Guard.

The new terminal building also has designated green areas and amenities that include a play area for children, drinking stations, ecumenical prayer rooms, urgent medical room, food stalls, and pasalubong centers.

There is also a boarding lane exclusive for pregnant women, senior citizens, persons with disability, and women travelling with children below two years old.

The PPA greenlighted the construction of the terminal in 2016.

The Port of Cagayan is part of the central nautical highway where Roll-on Roll-off transport system linkms Mindanao to Bacolod, Cebu, Iloilo, Jagna and Tagbiliran in Visayas, and Manila and Batangas in Luzon. – Rappler.com