Duterte set to approve P9.2B CPA port project in Consolacion

TAN

The Cebu Port Authority (CPA) welcomed the statement of Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia that the agency’s proposed P9.2-billion international container port in Consolacion town would likely get the President’s nod next week.

Following this development, CPA General Manager Edmund Tan reiterated his office’s mandate and is determined to see the project through.

“We welcome that statement of Secretary Pernia, and we are really hoping that our own new port project will be approved,” he told Cebu Daily News in a text message.

In an Inquirer report, Pernia said that President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to approve seven big-ticket infrastructure projects when he convenes the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Board on Nov. 14.

Among these projects was CPA’s proposed P9.2-billion Cebu International Container Port project in Barangay Tayud, Consolacion town, northern Cebu.

The CPA is eyeing a 12-hectare site in the town for the new international container port, the construction of which is seen to decongest the existing port at the North Reclamation Area in Cebu City.

But a private firm, Mega Harbour Port and Development Inc., a subsidiary of the R-II group of companies, was proposing to build the same project on the same site, although at a higher scale and cost.

The private developer was proposing to reclaim 85 hectares, where a 1,200-meter berthing facility will be constructed, thus increasing Cebu’s capacity to receive port calls from international vessels.

Tan, however, emphasized his office is the sole agency that can manage, operate, maintain and develop ports and port facilities in the entire Cebu province.

Republic Act No. 7621 or the CPA Charter provides that no private person or entity or local government unit can construct a port or pier without a permit from the CPA.

“Mega Harbour, so far, has never come to us to inform us or seek clearance or approval on their (joint venture agreement) with Consolacion,” said Tan.

Tan was referring to an agreement that the Consolacion municipal government has entered into with Mega Harbour for the project that will be solely paid for by the private developer.

Consolacion officials earlier said that studies regarding the Mega Harbour proposal was completed 20 years ago and have lamented that so much has been said about the project even when it is still in the first phase.

Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III, sought for comment regarding this conflict, said it was still premature to cast judgment and that everybody should just wait for when things really start to move.

“I’m sure it will be resolved, but that is a big project that will really help the economy of Cebu,” he said in a press conference at the Capitol.

Davide also welcomed the likely approval of the CPA-proposed project next week, adding that he is also pleased that Neda, which Pernia is director general of, plans to streamline the approval process for infrastructure projects.

The governor said he met with Pernia last month and was told that Neda was planning to cut the members of its board and Investment Coordinating Committee (ICC) from 22 to six, hastening the process of approving future projects.

Other projects expected to get President Duterte’s approval by next week are the almost P214-billion 653-kilometer south line of the North-South Railway project, which will be the biggest public-private partnership (PPP) project to date.

The Duterte administration would have approved at least 16 projects by the end of the year, which is faster than the previous administration, Pernia said in the Inquirer report.

So far, President Duterte as Neda board chair has approved only one PPP project, which is the P74.6-billion Ninoy Aquino International Airport development.