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Thursday, June 26, 2003
Tabuelan pins hope on port
By Linette C. Ramos
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
WITH agriculture as the means of livelihood of most Tabuelanons and with little resources to spur economic activities, the municipality hopes to develop its port to promote trade, while also trying to address the insurgency problem.
Unlike before, Tabuelan now boasts of having concrete roads, electricity and potable water piping system in all its 12 barangays.
But progress is slow for this fifth class municipality. It is still battling insurgency while also finding means to create economic activities and employment opportunities for its people.
Mayor Rex Casiano Gerona said that since there are no other means of earning income, residents of the mountain barangays engage in farming while those in the coastal barangays survive by fishing.
Trade consists mainly of sari-sari stores and carenderias. Those who are not into trading seek employment in Cebu City or in more developed municipalities, Gerona said.
All these are hoped to change when the municipality succeeds in developing its port.
“This might be our only chance at providing our people with jobs because there are no other economic activities here. When you have a port, people will have jobs and livelihood and the problem on poverty will be addressed. Investors will do business here because we have the means of bringing their goods to other provinces,” Gerona said.
The wharf currently serves bus companies plying the Cebu-Negros Oriental route.
Unfortunately, though, the municipality has to rely on its P3-million annual income and P21.6-million internal revenue allotment since there are no funds from the Provincial and National Governments for the port.
Aside from its water supply, concrete roads and electricity, Tabuelanons have other reasons to be proud of their municipality, the youngest in Cebu Province.
In the last Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association meet, Tabuelan ranked first in the children’s baseball event, qualifying them to join the next Palarong Pambansa.
Tabuelan also ranked first among the region’s fifth and sixth class municipalities in the clean and green competition this year.
With the ongoing port expansion and with police making sure peace and order remains stable, Gerona is optimistic the town will soon see progress .
(June 26, 2003 issue)
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