CPA ready to work with Cebu City Hall again

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu Port Authority (CPA) has formally expressed its readiness to work with the Cebu City government on terminal safety inspections; however, it stressed that the effort should also cover access roads leading to port areas, where obstructions and informal settlements pose risks to commuters.

In a letter dated April 6, 2026, CPA General Manager Francisco C. Comendador III affirmed the agency’s willingness to coordinate with the Office of the City Architect and the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO).

CPA’s technical teams, he said, are prepared to harmonize safety standards and adopt a cohesive approach to improvements.

“The Authority expresses its support for the City’s initiative to enhance the safety, accessibility, and overall functionality of transportation hubs for the benefit of the commuting public,” Comendador wrote, while noting that CPA’s jurisdiction over port zones remains intact.

The initiative stems from a resolution directing inspections of bus, jeepney, and sea terminals to identify structural and operational deficiencies. This aims to improve safety and accessibility for commuters, including senior citizens, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), and workers.

The cooperative tone marks a sharp departure from the fractious history between the CPA and the Cebu City government, particularly under then-Mayor Michael Rama.

During Rama’s administration, disputes over jurisdiction repeatedly flared.

The most high-profile case was the battle over the Compania Maritima property in 2023, when the CPA repossessed the historic building through a court order.

Rama vowed to reclaim it for the city, insisting the landmark should be under local management.

Rama then ordered the stoppage of the CPA’s port expansion project near City Hall due to a lack of a building permit, accusing the agency of “lack of decency” for failing to inform the city. Rama then had a biofence installed to halt construction.

The CPA countered that the site was within its jurisdiction, reigniting old tensions and highlighting the city’s insistence on regulatory oversight versus the CPA’s claim of exclusive authority under Republic Act 7621, which created the agency in 1992 to administer Cebu’s ports.

However, when Rama was suspended, then-acting Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia and Comendador met to ease tensions, pledging dialogue and coordination.

Since then, cooperation between the two parties has become more visible.

The CPA introduced fee waivers for shipping operators in 2026 to cushion rising fuel costs, complementing Cebu City’s broader relief measures.

With its latest reply, the CPA is said to be not only backing the city’s safety drive but also broadening its scope to include port approaches, areas often overlooked but critical to commuter safety and traffic flow. IHM (CEBU NEWS)