Kawit Island now officially part of SRP

CEBU - The Kawit Island at the South Road Properties has been reclassified as an alienable and disposable land and has been removed from the administration of the Department of Health, said Malacañang in a letter sent to Mayor Tomas Osmeña.

The letter, sent by Malacañang Records Office Director Marianito Dimaandal, attached with it a certified true copy of Proclamation 1505, which amended an Executive Order 43, the executive order issued in 1904 that declared the island solely for quarantine use and maritime hospital services by the Chief Quarantine Officer of the DOH.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo issued PP 1505 in May this year upon recommendation of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

PP 1505 has also formally declared the island as part of the SRP and under the direct administration of the city government.

With this development, the city government and the Asian Development Bank – Cities Development Initiatives for Asia will hold today a conference to kick off the Priority Infrastructure and Investment Plan of the SRP. 

At least 30 stakeholders are expected to attend the two-day conference, which will serve as a “visioning and scoping activity of the various project stakeholders,” said SRP Chief Operations Officer Nagiel Banacia.

Prospective investors and project counterparts from various offices of the Cebu City government are also expected to participate in the event.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña who is in the United States for chemotherapy treatment for his cancer will share his vision of the SRP through a teleconference.

Meanwhile, Joel Mari Yu, General Manager of the Cebu Investment and Promotions Center will tackle updates on marketing activities for the SRP such as projects investments and pending Negotiations.

City Planning and Development Officer Nigel Paul Villarete will talk on the “Role and Function of the SRP in Cebu City and Metro Cebu Development” while John Olof Vinterhav will talk in the “Rationale of the PIIP”.

Afternoon today, delegates of the conference will participate in a tour to the North Reclamation Area, the Sugbo Building, the Desalination Plant, Bigfoot Studios, Inayawan Landfill, Talisay South Road and Banilad- Mandaue areas.

Tomorrow, Jun Watanabe of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation will talk on the strategic framework master plan of the SRP while a representative of the Metro Cebu Water District will discuss the project’s water resources management action plan.

Delegates would also get to participate in workshops, which would climax with the presentation of outputs during the plenary.

Osmeña earlier said he plans to lease part of Kawit Island to selected agencies.

Before it became part of the SRP, Kawit Island was once less than 10 kilometers from mainland Cebu and had a total land area of 39,854 square meters.

Among the structures in the island are the building of the Association of Barangay Councils, SRP Administration Building, and the Office of Senior Citizens. – Ferliza C. Contratista/JMO (THE FREEMAN)