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Monday, June 26, 2006
CPA celebrates 10 years, shelves plan for new pier
By Elias O. Baquero
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
THE Cebu Port Authority (PCA) will not build a new international port because the Cebu International Port (CIP) is servicing only 60 percent of its capacity, said General Manager Mariano C.J. Martinez.
Martinez said they had planned to convert CIP into a domestic berthing area once a new international port will be put up. However, it is too early to construct a bigger port with only two or three foreign ship calling annually.
It was only 14 years ago that the CPA was created through Rep. Raul del Mar (Cebu City, north) who authored Republic Act 7621 or the CPA Charter.
Future harmony
The law was enacted on June 26, 1992 but the facility became operational only on Jan. 1, 1996.
Martinez said the CPA will celebrate its 10th anniversary today with the hope that it can work harmoniously with the Cebu City Government and the private sector.
Last March, the CPA paid P120 million in compromise real estate tax to the Cebu City Government after years of court battle.
The CPA is also turning over to the City Government its three-lane road from T. Padilla Ext. to Mariga Creek at the boundary of Mandaue City, to decongest traffic.
As of Dec. 31, 2005, the CPA has recorded total assets of almost P5 billion.
Martinez and CPA Commissioner Carlos Co are confident that CPA’s assets will grow further because it has programmed to build more ports and terminals.
The Manila International Container Port (MICT) services 1.2 million twenty equivalent units (TEUs) compared with CIP’s 80,000 TEUs.
No comparison
But Co said CIP cannot be compared with the MICT because the latter is huge and handles cargoes from almost all parts of the world. The cargoes that arrive at CIP are only from Singapore and Hong Kong.
Martinez said the volume of cargo a port handles is an indication of the size of the economy for which it serves and how productive and efficient a port is.
“I am proud to say that Cebu port is more productive and more efficient than MICT,” Martinez said.
He also said the CPA will focus on improving its facilities to maintain compliance with the International Standard on Port Facility Security and Safety (ISPS).
The Office of the Transport Security has issued an ISPS compliance certificate to CPA but good for two years only, and it will expire next year.
Martinez said they will acquire more security equipment and build more terminals.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (June 26, 2006 issue)
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