Talisay Asks Capitol’s Endorsement to Operate Idle P716-M Fish Port

The Talisay City Government has asked the Cebu provincial government to endorse the city’s proposal for the Cebu Port Authority (CPA) to transfer the operation and maintenance of its idle fish port facility to the city.

The fish port was built during the term of former Talisay City mayor and former Cebu first district congressman Eduardo Gullas at a cost of P716 million, but it was not used for its purpose.

The city intends to use the port following the signing of the lease contract between the city and Asian Marine Transport Corp. (AMTC) to develop the Talisay Fish Port into a roll-on roll-off (RORO) port.

The facility is adjacent to the city’s fish port.

Talisay Mayor Johnny de los Reyes handed the letter expressing the request to Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III.

De los Reyes was with Talisay Vice Mayor Romeo Villarante and some city officials during the mayor’s visit to the governor’s office.

The letter requested the governor to endorse Talisay City in entering into a memorandum of agreement with CPA for the transfer of operation and maintenance of the agency’s port facility.

“We recognize this move to be essential to provide alternative measures to somehow help ease the traffic in the cities of Cebu and Mandaue, by decongesting the port of Cebu through the use of the idle CPA port facility in Talisay City,” a part of the mayor’s letter read.

De los Reyes, in his letter, pointed out that opening a port to bigger companies will open an economic hi-way for the Talisay City and, thereby, generate more revenues.

Once the port is operational, De los Reyes said it will cater to cargo ships for Manila, Batangas, Cotabato, Davao, Cagayan, Iloilo and Bacolod.

The AMTC will rent the Talisay fish port for at least 25 years and will pay P800,000 per month as rental to the City Government.

Villarante said AMTC already gave an advance rental payment of P9.6 million. (PNA) LAP/EB