Golez: 'Banago Port's P18M development is underpriced

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines  — The P18-million cost for the repair of the terminal and causeway of the Banago Port is “underpriced,” according to Bacolod City Rep. Anthony Golez.

Golez told the media that the actual total amount of the project is reportedly P53 million, based on a source at the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) in Pulupandan.

The source, who requested anonymity, said the cost of the repair of the terminal is P18 million, while the repair of the causeway is more than P35 million, thus the total cost is P53 million.

Golez had said last week that the PPA had appropriated P18 million to cover the repair and renovation of the Banago Passenger Terminal and the Port Management Office in Brgy. Banago, of this city.

He said the P18-million fund was just the first phase of the modernization plan of the port, with the second phase going to be a berthing facility for RO-RO (roll-on, roll-off) and the reclamation.

But based on the document published in the PPA website www.ppa.com.ph, under the file “PDO-Visayas, Invitation to Bid for the Repair of Causeway Port of Banago, Bacolod City” the repair of causeway alone costs P35,886,665.37 as being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC).

The document for Invitation to Bid was prepared by James Gantalao, chairperson of the Bids and Awards Committee—Engineering Projects, the website show.

The source added that there is a separate contract for the P18-million repair of the terminal but it was not published in the PPA website.

Golez had led PPA officials in the blessing and inauguration of the Passenger Terminal Building and the Ports Management Office Building at the Banago Port last June 27.

Golez said he hoped the city government will give a proclamation for a Port Zone Delineation so that the PPA can request for more funding for the modernization of the port.

The source said the Port Zone Delineation would give way to the funding of more than P400 million for the second phase of development of the Banago port.