City council summons PPA to probe cost of Sasa Port project

DAVAO CITY — The Sangguniang Panlungsod expects to get a clearer picture of the Sasa Port modernization project here after the appearance of the officials of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) in its regular session tomorrow.

City Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang said the Sangguniang Panlungsod is determined to dig deep into the controversial seaport project after the country’s largest port operator raised questions about its huge cost.

He said the City Council invited representatives of the PPA, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and the City Planning Office to explain the project, its cost, its social and environmental impacts and its effects on taxpayers, port users, and consumers.

In its session two weeks ago, Dayanghirang said the project under the government’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program will have adverse effects on taxpayers, the business sector and consumers due to its huge costs. He said the original PPA study only cost billion to modernize the port but the DOTC bidding announced last month has pegged the price at billion.

The International Container Terminal Service, Inc. (ICTSI) owned by Enrique Razon said it would not participate in the Sasa Port PPP because of its huge cost.

The company compared the cost to build the Sasa Port to its planned Hijo Port in Tagum City which is three times larger in area which will cost only billion.

The PPA held its board meeting here last week but did not allow the media from covering the closed-door conference and did not issue any statement to clarify the port issue that has invited opposition from many sectors.