Malalag port to spur Davao del Sur economy
MALALAG, Davao del Sur- As the construction of the Malalag port has started along it’s coastal area in Barangay Baybay, the local chief executive said it will boost economy not only in their town but the whole province as well.
The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has taken over management and operations on Malalag’s port to upgrade the terminal to international standards.
Mayor Peter Paul Valentin yesterday said that the local government is excited to see the completion of such project given by President Rodrigo Duterte.
Valentin said he never expected that Duterte will agree immediately to develop the port when he had a chance to talk to the president sometimes in Panacañang last year.
He said the PPA, represented by its general manager Jay Daniel Santiago, and the local government signed the memorandum of agreement in June 2017.
This was after the local government of Malalag yielded the operations of the port to the PPA to give the terminal the much-needed facelift as it has been underdeveloped since the port was devolved to the LGU in May of 2000.
Valentin eyed a bigger infrastructure development since the terminal will spur economic growth not only in Malalag but in the province of Davao del Sur as the PPA handled it.
He said such project has an initial cost of P500 million.
It was learned that in May of 2000, PPA devolved the management and operations of the port to the local government of Malalag pursuant to Administrative Order No. 02-1998.