Collapse of fish port feared

CEBU - The P85-million fish port located at the boundary of barangays Sawang Calero and Suba is feared to collapse anytime if the cracks on its seawall would not be fixed.

Vice Mayor Michael Rama yesterday formed a task force to immediately seek for solutions to address the problem before the port claim the lives of people.

“Kuyaw na kaayo na. Hollow na ang ilawom anang fish port,” Rama said.

The issue was not in yesterday’s agenda but Rama insisted it should be discussed for being a “serious case.”

Composing the task force are representatives from the Departments of Public Services, Engineering, Squatters Prevention Encroachment & Elimination Division; Sawang Calero barangay captain Benjamin Zabate; and Rama’s staff employees Cristopher Ong and Eddie Cabras.

Zabate also confirmed that the fish port structure has been damaged and wondered why the city has failed to act on despite the P1 million budget for its repair in 2002.

The Belgian government has funded the construction of the fish port sometime in the 1990’s as one way to help the city attend to the needs of the fish traders.

Fish dealers from Visayas and Mindanao used to bring their products to Cebu City through the fish port but fish dealers eventually abandoned the area because the structure has dilapidated through time.

Currently, it is being used as temporary shelter by homeless individuals.

“Gipuy-an na lang kini karon sa mga squatters. Nagbutang lang sila og mga lantay nga ilang kahigdaan. Pwerteng samoka, pirmi lang dunay gubot diha,” Zabate said. — Rene U. Borromeo/JMO (THE FREEMAN)