Rep. Benhur Salimbangon of Cebu’s 4th district says port projects are being developed in some towns to accommodate foreign tourists. (CDN PHOTO/CHRISTIAN MANINGO)
More ports will be built in Cebu to accommodate international cruise ship bookings, Rep. Benhur Salimbangon of Cebu’s 4th district said yesterday.
During the 888 News Forum, Salimbangon said he talked with Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez on Cebu’s capacity to accommodate international cruise ships this year.
“Sec. Jimenez announced that now he is having a problem how to accommodate almost 100 bookings of cruise from abroad that will come to the Philippines. He is asking if we’re (Cebu) ready for this,” he said.
Salimbangon said the World Tourism Organization (WTO) called on the national government to provide more ports for international cruise ships to dock in the country.
The WTO recently manifested its desire to include the Philippines as a cruise destination, he said.
Manifestation
Salimbangon said more ports can be built in his district aside from those being developed in Maya, Daanbantayan, Malapascua Island, and Kinatarcan Island.
“We have a lot to do. Our port facilities, airport, road network, education system, and institutions all need to be in place. The manifestation of the WTO is really big news. We’ll be getting dollars.
Hopefully, we will be able to prepare our district,” Salimbangon said.
Cebu’s 4th district composed of Bogo City, Bantayan, Daanbantayan, Madridejos, Medellin, San Remigio, Santa Fe, Tabogon, and Tabuelan is known for its golf courses and beach resorts.
Salimbangon said the district will need 1,000 new rooms to accommodate cruise ships that might dock in Cebu.
He said he’s looking forward to seeing more bridges that would connect Cebu to the rest of the Visayas, including Bohol, Dumaguete and Leyte.
Axial highway
Salimbangon said that’s why he’s supporting Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s proposal for a federal form of government so Cebu can have a bigger slice of the national budget.
“We need to push to get a slice of the pie. The big-ticket budget allocations are usually for projects there (Luzon),” he said.
Salimbangon also expressed his desire to convert the trans-axial highway, a project of the late former Vice Gov. Gregorio Sanchez, into a toll highway.
“Hopefully this will reach up to the northern tip of Cebu. But if we start with phase one up until Danao, it will already be a great relief to the traffic situation in Metro Cebu,” he said.
“We could enter into a partnership with the private sector. They could build the infrastructure and after a few years, turn it over to the government. In the meantime, they could charge toll so they can recover from their initial spending,” he said.