P545 million needed for quake-damaged Cebu ports

Local

REHABILITATION and repair of ports in northern Cebu that were heavily damaged by last year’s 6.9-magnitude earthquake will cost over P545 million, according to the Cebu Port Authority (CPA).

The damaged infrastructures include the Polambato Port in Bogo City, the port in Kawit, Medellin, and Hagnaya Port in San Remigio.

In a regular session of the 17th Sangguniang Panlalawigan on Monday, June 15, Engr. Fernand Abangan of the CPA said this estimated cost is subject to the results of ongoing engineering, geological, and geohazard studies.

“We have already completed the preliminary data collection last May 31, 2026, and are currently doing field studies, which include topographic, bathymetric, and geotechnical investigations,” Abangan said.

During the session, ABC President and ex-officio Board Member Celestino “Tining” Martinez III raised concerns about the time frame of the study up to the actual rehabilitation work, since November is already past the budget proposal period for fiscal year 2027.

“Ang akong concern kay mahuman ang study after November, past budget month naman, so from now until 2028, kay 2027 naman next year, dili pa ni marealize ang pagrepair sa port?” Martinez asked.

“From now until November 2026, unya mahuman ta sa evaluation, ang budgeting is September, July ang submission, so my fear is nga by November, mahuman ang study, so adto na gyud ta sa 2028, mosaka na sad ni ang presyo sa P150 million,” he added.

Abangan said the CPA has already prepared the Program of Works (POW) for the repairs and rehabilitation of the quake-hit ports, but the final figures will still be dependent on the results of the engineering studies.

He said consultants have committed to complete the study by August this year so that the CPA can start the bidding for the actual work at Hagnaya Port as their priority project.

Repair works in other ports will then follow, Abangan said.

Currently, Hagnaya Port is undergoing minor repairs with a budget of around P2 million.

CPA General Manager Francisco Comendador III said that, unlike the General Appropriations Act (GAA), wherein budget proposals must be submitted by August, the CPA’s budget can still be endorsed in December.

“Based on our charter, as far as December, pwede pa kapasar sa budget so enough time pa nga mahulat nato kining study,” Comendador said.

Comendador said what concerns them is if the study results show a prohibition on the continued use of the port.

“Ang among gikahadlokan nga duna na gyuy prohibition ang maong study nga dili na pwede butangan ang pantalan kay sige padayon og us-os,” Comendador said.

Comendador said he already talked to San Remigio Mayor Mariano Martinez about the matter, particularly the town’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP), wherein the local government unit should identify possible areas where they can transfer the port.(MyTVCebu)