Mayors tell CPA: Let us manage our small ports

CEBU, Philippines - Some Cebu mayors have asked the Cebu Port Authority to have operations of small ports devolved to the concerned local government units for their development.

This was after the mayors learned during a meeting with the Provincial Development Council executive committee yesterday that CPA did not earmark funds for the other ports in the province while Metro Cebu is enjoying the bulk of the port authority’s development projects.

Bogo City Mayor Celestino Martinez Jr. lamented that his city has been asking for funds from the CPA to improve the roll-on/roll-off port in Polambato but to no avail.

He said the small ports were already left out because majority of the port authority’s development projects are concentrated in Metro Cebu.

Tuburan Mayor Democrito Diamante, League of Municipalities in the Philippines-Cebu Chapter, proposed to devolve operations of small ports to LGUs, which would take charge of the development. Samboan Mayor Raymond Joseph Calderon supported the proposal.

In response, CPA General Manager Edmund Tan said he is open to the possibility but could not yet make any decision pending review of the country’s ports devolution policy.

“We have parameters on devolution. We have a port system that some ports cannot be devolved because we are planning for their development,” he said.

The ports that could not be devolved include those in Danao City, Hagnaya in San Remigio, Santa Fe, Toledo City, Tangil in Dumanjug, and in Oslob.

Tan, however, made it clear that the entire operation and maintenance of a port would already be shouldered by the LGU once the authority is devolved.

“Ang income ibalik sa operation and maintenance. There are other devolved ports na di man lang naglagay ang LGU from the income para sa operation. Nanghingi pa sa amin. We cannot do that because we will be questioned by COA (Commission on Audit),” he said.

Tan said they are considering the proposal of having the Polambato Port managed and operated by CPA again, but it is still subject for further CPA board discussion.

CPA’s proposed projects include construction of a P400-million pier 4, P250-million Fast Ferry Passenger Terminal, and upgrade of port lighting systems, among others. — Michael Vencynth H. Braga, USJ-R Masscom Intern Janica Gee C. Otom/RHM (FREEMAN)