P10B Talisay port breaks ground

CEBU, Philippines — Despite opposition from some fisherfolk and threat of weather, the groundbreaking for the Cebu South Harbor and Container Terminal Corp. in Talisay City pushed through yesterday.

Cecile Bitare, a consultant for (CSHCTC), told reporters that planning for the project started in 2015.

She said the facility will reinforce the Build Build Build program of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Optimistically, on the third year from today, we will bring to reality a 25-hectare port that will cater to container and break bulk cargo operation and will put a pin mark for Talisay as the next center of progress in the historic island of Cebu,” Bitare said.

The P10 billion project will bring to Cebu a state-of-the-art container operation and terminal operating system; provide hundreds of job opportunities to Cebuanos and its surrounding communities; augment the flow of import and export that will simulate the growth of industries and sustain the economy of Cebu with the expected increase in commerce; increase port revenues of CPA; add revenues of the local government through permit fees and taxes for the port users; provide a healthy competition in port/terminal operation in the Visayas; create Cebu as a gateway for cargoes; put Cebu in the arena of international ports and places Cebu on the world map; ease up traffic in the main city of Cebu and Mandaue cities; provide the port users, shipping lines, shippers, consignees alternative choice of port and provide a better if not the best option.

The groundbreaking was attended by Presidential Assistance for the Visayas, Michael Dino; First District Rep. Gerald Anthony Gullas; Talisay Mayor Eduardo Gullas and the city’s councilors; CSHCTC incorporators Johnny Ng, Lucio Ko, and Paul Rodriguez; and officials of the Cebu Port Authority.

Officials of Barangay Tanke and Barangay San Roque were also present at the groundbreaking.

The two barangays have claimed that the project site falls under their area of jurisdiction.

Considering the ongoing boundary dispute between the two barangays, Mayor Gullas said the best solution is to divide the terminal’s profit share between Tanke and San Roque.

“Ato nalang bahinon kun unsa ang profit sa port aron wala na’y lalis,” Gullas told reporters.

Opposition

As the groundbreaking was happening, some fisherfolk stood by and rallied against the project.

Anastacio Caballero said the government must put on paper that it will not abandon the fishermen who may lose jobs because of the project.

“Lisud kaayo ni nga sabot-sabot lang unya wala’y kasulatan kay basi’g masugdan na, dili na unya mi tagdon,” Caballero said.

Bitare explained that fishermen will not be affected by the project because the area that will be reclaimed is not the area where fishermen drop their fishing nets.

Rep. Gullas also said the incorporators promised to hear the sentiments of the fisherfolk.

“Ato ning buhatan og Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the incorporators and the city government unya ang ma stipulate sa agreement mao ang mahatag nga assistance sa mga mananagat,” Gullas said.

In a statement on his Facebook page, Gullas also said he will not allow the fisherfolk to be ignored.

"We will not allow that to happen. Ato gayod silang pangayoan ug konkreto nga plano kon unsaon mo nila pagprayoredad coz it was our agreement nga dili mo mapasagdan," he said. (FREEMAN)