Wednesday, May 07, 2008 Mactan Channel study to cost P1.5M
THE proposed navigational safety study on the Mactan Channel by the National Economic Development Council (Neda) 7 will cost the Mactan-Cebu Bridge Management Board (MCBMB) an estimated P1.5 million.
But instead of letting the bridge board shoulder all the study’s expenses, Police Regional Office 7 Director Ronald Roderos urged the board to let shipowners and other private entities share the cost.
The study was proposed after two local government officials and shipowners in Mactan Island opposed the plan to reroute inter-island vessels to Hilutungan Channel.
Lapu-Lapu City Vice Mayor Mario Amores had warned that allowing vessels to pass the Hilutungan Channel will damage seven marine sanctuaries.
Amores said Lapu-Lapu officials will try to rally support from hotel and resort owners against the proposal. Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy echoed Amores’ sentiment.
Sitoy said the Provincial Government missed the cause of the recent accidents, which is the narrowing of the Mactan Channel with reclamation projects by both the cities of Cebu and Mandaue.
Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia deferred acting on the proposal, saying the bridge board will wait first for the result of the petition hurled against the proposed construction of the multi-billion Lapu-Lapu Reclamation Project.
During the meeting of the MCBMB at the Capitol Social Hall yesterday, Neda 7 Director Marlene Rodriguez presented a draft proposal for the conduct of the study on the navigational safety of the Mactan Channel that will commence in May and end in November.
The proposed study came about after two ships rammed a column of the two bridges. (GMD)
