New chief to review projects of past CPA administration

A REVIEW of several projects of the past management of the Cebu Port Authority (CPA) will be among the first things that the new general manager will do together with the CPA board commissioners.

“Many projects will be looked into. We (commissioners) need to look into that if it’s (projects) good for the people then we do it. If something can be adjusted, then we adjust,” said Angelo Verdan, new CPA general manager during his assumption to the office yesterday.

Verdan, however, assured that the decisions for these projects to be reviewed would be collective and would be discussed well with the CPA commissioners.

Aside from Verdan, other CPA board’s commissioners include lawyer Jose Mario Elino Tan (Shipping Sector), Commissioner Teotimo A. Ballesteros, Jr. (Business Sector), Commissioner Joselito O. Pedaria (Cargo Handling Labor Sector), Commissioner Marino M. Fernan (Shipping Sector) and lawyer Tomas A. Riveral (Cargo Handling Sector).

“It’s their prerogative to review there is nothing wrong about it. It is normal for a new administration to review pending projects and programs and to improve on them as they see fit,” said lawyer Yusop Uckung, CPA legal department manager, when asked if the review of the projects would include the new Cebu International Port project in Consolacion town.

The international port project in Consolacion town in northern Cebu became controversial when the town entered into a joint venture agreement with Mega Harbour Port and Development Inc. to build a P16-billion international port on the same area where CPA will build a P9.13-billion Cebu International Port, a project which the National Economic Development Authority Board headed by President Rodrigo Duterte recently approved.

Wait and see

Uckung, who was designated by Verdan to answer questions from the media, said that he could not also preempt the thrust of the new management with regards to all projects, and he would defer to their board’s wise discretion.

“What I know is that we will follow national policies and directives of the DOTr (Department of Transportation) and/or the Office of the President,” he said.

He also said to just wait what the board would decide on.

“I don’t know, but nothing is impossible. Let’s just wait and see,” said Uckung when asked if there is a chance that the CPA board could change their position opposing the joint venture deal.

Verdan praised his predecessor, the outgoing general manager Edmund Tan, for his achievements in his six years in office as he formally took over the post yesterday.

Verdan, who was also CPA general from 2006 to 2010, talked about change in Duterte’s administration.

“There is really change, it keeps moving. You know what is good in this administration is that you don’t need to wait long,” Verdan said.

Aside from being a former CPA general manager, Verdan was also the administrator of the regional Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) of the Philippines and the general manager of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport from 2002 to 2004.