ALAMINOS CITY—The memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the ferry project within the Lingayen Gulf between this city and the cities of Dagupan and San Fernando in La Union was signed on March 31 at the Welcome House at Lucap Wharf here.

The MOA was signed by Alaminos City Mayor Hernani Braganza, Dagupan City Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr. and Engr. Rudy Ducusin, city planning and development officer of San Fernando who represented San Fernando City Mayor Pablo Ortega.

The planned ferry system through the historic Lingayen Gulf is envisioned as a complementing partnership between the three cities in terms of trade, commerce, culture, healthcare, tourism and eco-tourism.

Braganza said the project is expected to increase the number of travelers between the two provinces and within Pangasinan.

“San Fernando is the regional center of Region I, maraming taga-Western Pangasinan ang bumibiyahe dyan to secure permits, clearances, passports and etc.,” he said.

“Dagupan, on the other hand, is the commercial center of Pangasinan where there are several malls, hotels, and other services like restaurants, while Alaminos boasts of the Hundred Islands,” he added.

The ferry system is calculated to cut travel time between the three cities by at least three hours.

The project will initially be funded by the three city governments but Braganza reiterated earlier announcements that they intend to seek a build-operate-transfer (BOT) arrangement with private investors “para hindi masyadong magastos.“

Dagupan has already incorporated the city’s contribution in the 2008 investment program in the annual budget.–CSR

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