Groundbreaking for Sual port held

SUAL -- Finally, the Sual Port Development Project as envisioned by Governor Amado Espino Jr. to uplift the economic situation of the province of Pangasinan will soon rise.

On Friday morning, the governor and Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Undersecretary Doroteo Reyes II, area development officer for Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), led the groundbreaking ceremony and laying of the time capsule held at Barangay Poblacion, this town.

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“This port, while the immediate target is passenger and cargo, it is also designed to accommodate international cargo vessels. I hope we can finish it in 2012,” said Reyes.

“The Sual port will pave way for the development of our potential export products, such as metallic and non-metallic minerals, including an abundant supply of high quality sand and gravel, as well as, agricultural crops and fishery products. It will provide easier access for out potential exports to reach the global market,” remarked Espino.

“Today is one historic moment when Pangasinan can enjoy the real prospect of moving forward, and finally leaving behind those unfortunate years of missed opportunities,” he added.

The governor said the town of Sual is blessed as from an obscure sleepy town, it moved up to become a Class A municipality after the construction of the Sual Coal Fired Power Plant, one of the biggest power plants in the country.

“It is not far-fetched that Sual will soon be called the Port Industrial City of Pangasinan. But the benefits of this vital economic facility will surely extend towards a greater part of the province,” Espino stated.

Meanwhile, first district Representative Arthur Celeste said the next congressman should make an initiative in Congress to declare the first district of Pangasinan as a Special Economic Zone.

First to be constructed is the Phase I of the Sual Port Development Project costing P80.6 million fully funded by the National Government. This was awarded to the Golden Ridge Construction.

Espino said Phase 1 involves the construction of a rock causeway, including rock bullhead, stair landing, RC curb, retaining wall and drainage system, and a 12-meter x 12-meter Ro-Ro (roll-on, roll-off) ramp.

For Phase II and Phase III, the Provincial Government has allocated P200 million as counterpart funding while the municipality of Sual has allocated P100 million.

“This very real prospect has become possible because of the strong support given by the Department of Transportation and Communication and the Philippine Ports Authority who have jointly allocated P200 million of their agency and corporate funds for this particular project. And most especially President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who since day one of our first term as governor, had never flinched in her commitment to help us realize new breakthroughs for Pangasinan,” said Espino who was in high spirit.

Phase 1 is calendared to be finished in 360 days.

The scope of work of Phase 2 is the construction of R.C. pier with Ro-Ro ramp while Phase 3 will cover the reclamation of 12 hectares and construction of R.C. wharf thereat. The contract amount of each phase will be determined after detailed engineering and designs are completed.

Meanwhile, Sual Mayor John Rodney Arcinue said a management team will likely be created later to oversee the operation of the Sual Port since funding sharing, with representatives of the province, the municipality and the National Government as members of the team.