BUILDING THE TAYUD PORT

Cebu Port Authority open to meet with interested companies that want to build port

Asked about the agreement between the Municipality of Consolacion and Mega Harbour and Port Development Corp., CPA General Manager Angelo Verdan said they will still need a permit from the CPA, which has the sole authority over ports in the country

THE Cebu Port Authority (CPA) is open to private parties interested in the construction of the New Cebu International Container Port (NCICP) in Tayud, Consolacion.

CPA General Manager Angelo Verdan said that while NCICP was already approved by the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Board, it only approved the financial aspect of the project.

“What has been accomplished so far is the feasibility study (FS). We still need the design,” Verdan said.

The FS was conducted by the Korean International Cooperation Agency (Koica), which suggested that the government obtain an Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) loan with minimal interest.

Verdan’s predecessor Edmund Tan said the CPA will implement the project “by administration” so it will solely own the port.

Other parties

The NCICP was discussed during the meeting of the Cebu Port Commission, the CPA’s policy-making body, presided by Department of Transportation (DOTr) Undersecretary Felipe Judan.

Verdan was informed that Mega Har- bour and Port Development Corp. signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Consolacion Mayor Teresa Alegado to build the same port.

Alegado said the local government unit has the power to undertake the project under public-private partnership (PPP), citing the Local Government Code.

However, Verdan said if Mega Harbour is serious about the MOU, it should apply for a permit from CPA, which has the sole authority over ports.

Implementation

Verdan said that if CPA implements the project by itself, including reclamation work, all that is needed is for them to inform the Philippine Reclamation Authority.

But if Mega Harbour does the project, it will pass through the scrutiny of the Cebu Provincial Government, PRA and CPA.

Meanwhile, Liloan Vice Mayor Duke Frasco who was sworn in as one of CPA’s new commissioners, said he looks for- ward to the new challenge in his almost decade-long career in public service.

Frasco, who will soon resign as vice mayor to focus on CPA, was nominated by President Rodrigo Duterte to be part of the authority that governs all port operations in Cebu.

Career

Frasco was elected mayor of Liloan when he was 26 and held the post for nine years. He was succeeded by his wife, lawyer Cristina Garcia Frasco.

Under his administration, Frasco transformed Liloan from third class to first class municipality, which was adjudged as one of the top performing towns in Cebu. He was also chosen as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) of the Philippines for public administration.

“I am grateful and humbled to accept this appointment from the President with full support of my family, our councilors, barangay captains and constituents in Liloan,” Frasco said.