|
Tuesday, March 04, 2003
Tycoon offers to build Sibulan port
By Victor L. Camion
SIBULAN, Negros Oriental -- Mayor Antonio Renacia lauded the proposal of a business tycoon in Negros Oriental to finance the construction of the local port here.
Renacia, in a local radio interview, said businessman Raul Sia wrote him a letter of intent to finance the proposed fast ferry port in Sibulan under the Build Operate Transfer scheme.
Sia owns the computer school Asian College of Science and Technology (ACSAT) in Dumaguete City.
Renacia said the offer was the third option he presented to the Municipal Council of Sibulan for study last February 24.
He added that Mr. Sia is ready to submit the details of his proposal in case the SB will call him to shed light on his intention.
The mayor, however, is apprehensive that the implementation of the project could be delayed since Sia wanted the municipality to comply with the requirements including those linked to environmental issues.
Renacia assured the municipal government of Sibulan will not spend a single centavo to build the port because the businessman will shoulder all the expenses.
The mayor also assured that the local government of Sibulan will have control over port operations.
But all these, he said, will depend on what option the SB will choose.
On the other hand, Sia confirmed his intention to finance the building of the port and that he has visited the mayor to inform him of it.
The businessman said he offered his help after learning from a newspaper report that Sibulan has no port and that he wants to help the residents of Sibulan and those in nearby towns and cities to get access to transport facilities for their travel from Cebu to Negros Oriental.
Sia said that under the project proposal presented to him, the project will cost more or less P4.3 million and will take four months to finish.
He said construction works could begin as soon as the project requirements re completed.
Sia said he would be able to recover his investments in 15 years through the P4 terminal fee that will be collected from each passenger.
He said he will turn over the port to the local government of Sibulan after 15 years.
Aside from Sia's offer, the municipal government is considering two other options to build the port.
The first option is for the Philippine Ports Authority to finance the project while the second option is to secure a loan from a financial institution.
(March 1, 2003 issue)
Want Sun.Star news on your mobile phone? Click here.
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
[ return
to top ]
[ home
]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
|
