By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – The locality of E.B. Magalona in Negros Occidental will soon have its second seaport with the development of the proposed Saravia Municipal Port in Barangay Tuburan.
This, after Mayor Marvin Malacon and Engr. Rodel Lagmay, acting port manager of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) Port Management Office (PMO) Negros Occidental and representing PPA General Manager Atty. Jay Daniel Santiago, signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) at the Asenso Hall at the Public Plaza last Friday for the construction, management, and operations of the said municipal port.
The Saravia Municipal Port will be the first in E.B. Magalona that will be operated by the national government, as the seaport in Barangay Manta-angan is being operated by a private company.
During the signing ceremony, Malacon endorsed the municipal port operations to the PPA and transferred its jurisdiction from the municipal government to the PPA which shall then “manage, operate, develop, administer, and maintain the said port.”
Malacon, in his message, said that it has been his vision since his administration started in 2016 to revive the old port in Barangay Tuburan.
He thanked the PPA for supporting his vision and making this dream of every Saraviahanon come true.
The municipal port is expected to bring more economic opportunities and will have a ripple effect in terms of the growth and development of the town, according to Malacon.
This means the municipality will soon become a busy gateway to Negros Island for those coming from Panay Island, the mayor said.
For his part, Lagmay said they will endorse the MOA to the PPA Board of Directors for technical evaluation and funding next year.
Lagmay said the new port will provide an alternate route for travel between Panay and Negros islands and will serve as a “catalyst for change” in economic trade in the region.
On November 13, the Municipal Council led by Vice Mayor Eric Matulac, unanimously passed Resolution No. 2023- 170, authorizing Malacon to sign the MOA with the PPA on the management and operation of the Saravia Municipal Port.
