Camiguin seaports reaping gains from PGMA’s SRNH Project
THE newly renovated roll-on, roll-off (RORO) port in Barangay Balbagon, Mambajao, now accommodates additional sea vessels plying the Balbagon-Jagna (Bohol)-Balbagon routes on a daily basis at a cost of only P350, in addition to trips bound for Cebu on weekends.
This is part of President Arroyo’s Strong Republic Nautical Highway-Central Seaboard Project, which aims to link the island-province to Bohol and Cebu in the Visayas and the rest of the major seaports in the country.
The port development project in Balbagon is also in support of the Bohol-Cebu-Camiguin triad tourism destination under the President’s “Super Regions” development strategy.
According to Bienvenido Basco, Port District Manager in Northern Mindanao, the project costs about P75 million, composed of the 25-lineal meter extension of the RORO ramp completed at a contract cost of P25.4 million; the 1,260-square meter reclamation of back-up area completed at a cost of P31.7million; and the P17.7 million, 464-square meter passengers terminal, which could accommodate about 150 passengers.
The President has personally inspected the project last April, together with some of her Cabinet secretaries as they joined the RORO Caravan all the way from Luzon to Mindanao, inaugurating RORO ports in Bulan, Sorsogon; Masbate City; Cebu; and Tubigon, Bohol.
President Arroyo has also cited the development of the Guinsiliban Port in her 2007 State of the Nation Address (SONA), being the nearest link between Camiguin and Misamis Oriental of mainland Mindanao.
Meanwhile the Benoni Port in the town of Mahinog is also a RORO point connecting the province to Misamis Oriental via the Balingaon Port.
In May this year, the province received P11 million from the Philippine Ports Authority, for the development of Benoni Port and resettlement of affected families living near the port area. (Jorie C. Valcorza/PIA-MisOrOccCam)
A bus bearing President Arroyo's Cabinet members rolls off to the newly completed roll-on, roll-off ramp at the Balbagon Port in Mambajao town, Camiguin, April 29. (PIA-MisOrOccCam)IMPROVEMENT and rehabilitation of Cagayan de Oro City’s main drainage system, opening of more road infrastructure network and the construction of water system projects topped the list of priorities for funding under the City Government’s 20% Development Fund this year.
This was bared Friday last week by City Mayor Constantino G. Jaraula when he addressed the different rural and urban barangay chairmen during the “Executive Forum on Barangay Good Governance” held at the City Tourism Hall.
In his message, Mayor Jaraula stressed that there is an urgent need for the improvement of the city’s main drainage system in order to prevent the perennial flooding in low-lying areas of the city.
Mayor Jaraula cited the importance of a careful and thorough study on the city’s waterways after noting that the existing drainage facilities, especially in flood-prone areas like barangays Macasandig, Camaman-an, Lapasan and Carmen, overflow when heavy downpour occurs.
Mayor Jaraula hopes that the construction of an additional major drainage system will solve the perennial flooding on the city’s urban streets, particularly from Pabayo going to Corrales, Barangay Camaman-an to Limketkai area and Villarin Street in Barangay Carmen.
The city chief executive also cited the opening of more road infrastructure network to accelerate the development of new growth centers and to ease traffic congestion in sub-urban centers, and the provision of sufficient water supply that needs immediate action from the city government.
As this year’s 20% Development Fund primarily focuses on the identified priority projects, Mayor Jaraula appealed for kind understanding from the barangay chairmen to consider his move to set aside some barangay projects earlier endorsed for funding from the 20% Development Fund this year.
The city mayor, however, assured the barangay chairmen that the city government will concentrate next year in the implementation of barangay projects to,be charged under the 2009 20% Development Fund.
The one-day forum, attended by 73 out of the city’s 80 barangay chairmen, was called by Mayor Jaraula in line with his thrusts and policies to improve the efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of public service to the people of Cagayan de Oro City, especially in the barangay level.
The forum serves as an avenue for the barangay chairmen to interact with Mayor Jaraula and concerned department heads in addressing their pressing issues and concerns affecting their respective barangays.
Regional Director Quirino M. Libunao of the Department of Interior and Local Government-10; city councilors Aaron Neri, Liga ng mga Barangay president, Alexander Dacer, Ian Mark Nacaya and Sk Federation president Kreena Vi Poquita also graced the occasion by sharing their views, opinions and recommendations.
Presently, 55 out of 80 are new barangay chairmen--31 of whom are from the urban barangays and 24 are from the rural barangays. Of the 25 re-elected barangay chairmen, 16 are rural barangay chairmen and 9 are urban barangay chairmen.
In a related development, Mayor Jaraula assured to provide four units of motorcycle which will be used by the coordinators of the Liga Ng Mga Barangay in Districts 1 to 4.
The provision of the four motorcycle units hopes to provide easier and faster mobility and transportation of the different district coordinators while doing legwork with the other chairmen. (Cagayan de Oro City Information Office/PIA-MisOrOccCam i-Net)
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