Friday, November 02, 2007 CPA realigns P40 million to fund dredging of Hagnaya Channel
THE Cebu Port Authority (CPA) is realigning P40 million, from its approved 2007 annual budget for infrastructure projects that has not been bid out, to fund the dredging of the Hagnaya Channel in San Remigio, Cebu.
General Manager Angelo Verdan said the CPA scheduled the immediate dredging of the Hagnaya Channel to allow the safe operation of vessels during low tide, as requested by Rep. Benhur Salimbangon (Cebu, 4th district) and upon the instruction of President Arroyo.
Included in the P40 million budget is P2.5 million for the purchase and installation of solar-powered lighted markers that will indicate the dredged area and make it safer for navigation even during low tide.
With Salimbangon’s request and Arroyo’s order, the CPA considers the project urgent. The invitation to bid will be published next week. The details of the program may also be found at the CPA website at www.cpa. gov.ph.
Within 180 days
Verdan said that the dredging and installation of markers are to be completed within 180 days after the notice of award is given to the winning bidder.
The previous dredging project was discussed by the Cebu Port Commission, the policy-making body of the CPA, in a board meeting chaired by Alternate Chairman Oscar Sevilla and attended by Verdan and Commissioners Tomas A. Riveral, Alfonso Allere, Orlando Antonio and Carlos Co.
It was noted that the previous dredging attempts did not improve the depth of the entire Hagnaya Channel.
Owing to the hard rocks and corral formation in the area, the dredging took much longer than estimated, with additional work added to comply with environmental requirements. The budget provided in the program of works ran just a little over the halfway mark into the project.
Verdan said that the budget and program of works for the incoming dredging project took into consideration the difficulties and additional works experienced in the previous attempts.
With the dredging project, the CPA also deferred the plan to construct a new port in the amount of P110 million at Barangay Punta, also in San Remigio.
If the new port project will push through, P80 million out of the P110 million will be for the construction of the port with an 180-meter causeway and P30 million for the acquisition of right-of-way and development access road to be undertaken by the Department of Public Works and Highways. (EOB)
