Bidding for fastcraft terminal targeted before election ban

The Cebu Port Authority (CPA) hopes to bid out the contract for the construction of a new fast ferry passenger terminal before the ban on the release of public funds takes effect.

TAN

Based on the Omnibus Election Code, the government is prohibited from releasing public funds and awarding public projects 45 days before the elections.

Edmund Tan, CPA vice chairman and general manager, said the new fast ferry passenger terminal will be built at the site of the old 2Go passenger terminal in the Cebu International Port. The old terminal was damaged during the 7.2-magnitude earthquake in October 2013.

“We hope to start bidding for the project before the election ban so that we can have the new passenger terminal as soon as possible,” Tan told shipping operators and other port stakeholders as well as representatives of the Bureau of Customs and other government agencies in a dialog early this week.

The new passenger terminal, estimated to cost P250 million, is among the projects proposed by the port body.

The biggest in terms of project cost is the proposed P10-billion Cebu International Container Port in Tayud, Consolacion.

Tan said the final plans for the CICP have been forwarded to the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and will be turned over to the National Economic and Development Authority for approval.

Construction is targeted to start in August this year. The new port is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2019.

“Matagal na ‘to eh (This is long overdue). We need a new port,” Tan said.

The port body has also identified the following short-term projects: installation of 10 lighted buoys along the Cebu channel (P50 million); renovation of the terminal office and provision of a one-stop shop building at the Cebu baseport (P8 million); extension of the Ro-Ro ramp and expansion of back-up area at the port of Tangil, Dumanjug (P40 million); provision of fences, gates, covered walk and drainage system at the port of Danao, Cebu (P6 million);  and upgrading of port lighting systems at Cebu baseport (P60 million).

Aside from the proposed fast ferry terminal, other medium-term projects are upgrading of the CIP berths and dredging of the Cebu channel along the port of Cebu, which will cost an estimated P487 million. A pedestrian overpass in the Cebu baseport is also being looked at, but a project cost estimate has not yet been given.

The agency has also identified four projects to be funded by the DOTC, namely the construction of two jetties with covered walks in Malapascua, Daan Bantayan (P22.66 million) and in Kinatarcan Island, Sta. Fe (P14.12 million).

CPA also proposed that DOTC fund the extension of  the rock causeway at the port of Maya in Daan Bantayan, estimated to cost P40 million, as well as the repair and extension of the existing rock causeway deck with provision of Ro-Ro ramp at the port of Pilar in Camotes, which is estimated to cost P40 million.