ILOILO City Councilor Plaridel Nava is seeking a legislative inquiry into the suspected defective water tank component of the P230-million new river port complex in Barangay Progreso, Lapuz.
The port complex caters to the needs of fastcrafts going to Bacolod City and back and the roll-on roll-off (roro) vessels going to Palawan, Cagayancillo, Masbate and Metro Manila.
In a privilege speech at the City Council session Tuesday, Nava said the defective water tank carrying more than 10 metric tons of water for daily use of the new river port complex is a threat to boat passengers and nearby residents since the project has no solid foundation and stockpile when constructed.
The contractor hired by the Philippine Ports Authority is Bacolod-based Opill Construction owned by Charlie Misagi, who failed to drive the piles to support and strengthen the base of the water tank.
The City Council referred the issue to its committee on infrastructures to conduct the inquiry with the help of structural engineers and consultants to determine the safety of the water tank project.
The new river port complex was inaugurated last September 5. It serves the needs of three fastcraft companies and three roro companies that transferred operation from the Muelle Loney side to the Lapuz side.
The whole port complex includes the construction of berthing facilities, passenger terminal building, site development and dredging of the berthing area at design depth of -4.00MLLW.
Additional works include landscaping, additional facilities for the passenger terminal building, repair of apron and concrete pavement and clearing and demolition of eyesore structures. (LCP)