Tensions rose during the meeting of the Provincial Development Council (PDC) executive committee yesterday when two high-ranking officials argued about control of and aid for the port in Bogo City.
Bogo City Mayor Celestino “Junie” Martinez Jr. accused the Cebu Port Authority (CPA) of taking for granted the ports in northern Cebu, saying that development was only concentrated in Metro Cebu.
“Mangutana kuno ko ninyo – hain man ang ports nga tua sa mga kalungsuran? Because the (CPA) Charter was not only passed to administer Metro Cebu,” Martinez said.
Before this, the CPA presented its short-term and medium-term plans as well as updates on the proposed new international container port in Tayud, Consolacion town in north Cebu.
The new container port will be “geared to meet the demands of the dynamic and fast-growing economy.”
Estimated to cost P9 billion, the project will be implemented through the Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) of Japan facilitated by the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC).
CPA mentioned in its presentation projects in towns of Sta. Fe, Daanbantayan, and Camotes Island, in north Cebu among others.
Even so, the mayor complained that funding for these projects either came from the Philippine Port Authority (PPA) or the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC).
“Where is funding from the CPA? Tagaan pod unta mi so that we’ll feel that we’re part and parcel of the CPA,” said Martinez.
CPA General Manager Edmund Tan explained that the authority does not have enough funds to support local port development projects outside Metro Cebu.
He said that in the case of Bogo City, the operation and management of the Polambato Wharf was already devolved from the CPA to the local government.
Mayor Martinez hit back at Tan saying that it hasn’t been the case.
“You keep telling us about the devolution but our last communication from you said that you are still studying whether you can devolve the port to us or not,” said Martinez.
Martinez said that CPA has never granted a request for financial assistance by Bogo and only depended on the help of senators or congressmen back then.
While port operation and management have been devolved to the LGU, the mayor said that supervision and collection of fees is still done by the CPA. At present, CPA collects 50 percent of the income from Polambato Wharf while the other half goes to Bogo City.
Tan said that CPA cannot improve the facilities of the port because it has already been “devolved” to Bogo city.
CPA manages all ports in Cebu. Tan asked the Bogo mayor if he was willing to “hand back” the port to the CPA.
“Yes, but you have to show us a development plan for our port,” Martinez replied.
In the end, the issue was resolved with Tan agreeing that instead of full devolution, there will only be a “transfer of management” of the port in Bogo City.
He also agreed to Martinez’s suggestion for the sharing of revenue to be 80 : 20 in favor of the local government.