Lucy grabs credit anew, this time on port project

A TARPAULIN of the congresswoman announcing the expansion of the Ormoc pier was removed by the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), according to a reliable source at the PPA who asked anonymity so as not to earn the ire of the lady solon.

The source said Lito Cotiangco of the congressional office informed them they will hang a tarpaulin at the port. The Port Management Office (PMO) was apprehensive to grant the request considering the controversy surrounding Senate Bill No. 1967 or the Anti-Epal Bill which seeks to illegalize billboards bearing politicians’ names and faces.

The PMO thus asked Cotiangco to first show them the wordings of the tarpaulin. But instead of heeding the instruction, port workers were surprised to see two tarpaulins on the front and side of the coast guard station facing the parking lot of the terminals for fast crafts.

Coast guard personnel said the tarpaulins were hung on the afternoon of Nov. 17. The tarpaulins bear the signature face of the congresswoman announcing the project made “through the efforts of Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez.” Early the next morning, the PPA removed the tarpaulins.

Mayor Eric C. Codilla, upon learning of the incident, said it is deceiving for the congresswoman to claim credit for the project being a national undertaking. He added that the PPA had informed him of the project long before Rep. Gomez was elected and he even lobbied that the deep harbor in Ipil be developed instead.

 World class port
The project, which will run to more than P200 million, entails the expansion of the existing port sideward facing the public market by reclaiming almost one hectare of the sea. On that huge tract of reclaimed land will rise a transit shed, two roll-on and roll-off (roro) ramps and wharf for motorized boats.

The wharf which currently sits in front of Bldg. A of the market will be relocated near the fish/wet section. The fast craft pier will have to be lengthened because of the reclamation. Over at the existing port, a three-storey PPA operation building will rise and a weight bridge will be installed.

Meanwhile, the separate terminals of Supercat and Weesam Express will be merged into a P36 million mega terminal that can accommodate 650 people. It will be equipped with x-ray scanners and walk-through detector while an information technology room, mother and child center, and playroom will be added to existing amenities like comfort rooms, souvenir shop and canteen.

Ormoc PMO Manager Atty. Glenn G. Cabañez said the project will start as soon as funds are available and will be finished between six months and one year. The port expansion is long overdue considering the increasing traffic on passengers, cargo, container and roro, he said.

During a meeting between PMO and city officials last Nov. 11, Mayor Codilla ordered the councilors to pass a resolution interposing no objection to the project as soon as PPA improves its proposed port zone delineation. PPA will have authority to manage and operate the area to be delineated. Atty. Cabañez assured that they will incorporate in their proposal that there will be no expansion at the coast of the plaza so as not to disrupt the bay and sunset views. by Jun Tarroza
(WLWE issue of Nov. 14-20, 2011)

Some Ormocanons are wondering why a billboard announcing the P130 million port expansion project hangs outside the congressional office instead of the port area. The billboard was actually posted at the port to stress Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez's insistence that the project should be credited to her. But the PPA itself took down the billboard which in effect belies her claim, leaving the congressional staff with no other recourse but to move the announcement in their territory where the PPA cannot touch it.