Benhur: Dredge Hagnaya Channel

CEBU, Philippines - Following the reported multi-million Mactan Channel dredging project for the Cebu International Port (CIP), fourth district Rep. Benhur Salimbangon urged the Cebu Port Authority (CPA) to also do it for Hagnaya Channel in the north.

Salimbangon said he was glad that the P580-million project, which is intended for CIP to accommodate international bulk carriers, would soon start, as announced by CPA General Manager Edmund Tan.

He hoped that the CPA could likewise dedicate millions of pesos for Hagnaya Channel, adding that the port is important in the development of the district.

Salimbangon is concerned about the Hagnaya wharf in San Remigio town because of the very narrow channel.

"Kanang atong gi-dredge sa (We dredged) Hagnaya gamay ra gyud kayo (before but it was to miniscule). In fact, maglisod magsugat ang barko (two ships that would meet there would find it difficult to pass each other by)," he said.

When he was first elected congressman in 2007, Salimbangon's first request to then president now Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to have Hagnaya Channel dredged.

He had also set aside more than P30 million of his Priority Development Assistance Fund so the project was implemented in 2008.

Hagnaya Wharf is the gateway to Bantayan Island, connecting mainland Cebu to the island through the Sta. Fe port.

Several accidents have already occurred at the wharf, when ships and ferry boats cannot dock because of low tide they drop anchors at the Hagnaya channel and use service boats to bring passengers to the port.

Incidents where the service boats sink, resulting to the loss of lives and properties, have happened several times in the past.

Salimbangon said that once the channel is dredged, more vessels going to and from Hagnaya port are expected to be accommodated.

Salimbangon appealed the CPA to look into his request.

The Mactan Channel dredging project was supposed to start in 2012; additional requirements caused the delay.

Earlier in 2013, the CPA conducted a steel sheet piling in preparation for dredging of the CIP as well as the domestic ports from Pier 1 to Pier 3.This was after the CPA got a loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines.

The dredging project, which would finally start within the month, would now extend up to the waters off the South Road Properties.

After the project is completed, bulk carriers of at least 50,000 metric tons may be able to use the Mactan Channel already.

The Oriental Port and Allied Services Corporation had acquired bulk handling facilities with four bagging equipment to accommodate bulk carriers at the CIP.

At present, the CIP can only service bulk carriers weighing 7,000 metric tons to 10,000 metric tons during high tide.-/RHM (FREEMAN)