Toledo to construct 11 ha reclamation for international port site

The City of Toledo today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) for the establishment of the 11 hectare reclamation project.

Witnessed by Vice Mayor Antonio Yapha, City Councilors, department heads , local media and PRA, the MOU was officially signed by Toledo City Mayor John Henry Osmena and PRA General Manager lawyer Janilo Rubiato.

This will start the establishment of the 11 hectare reclamation project in 30 days which according to Osmena, will be the location of an international port at the western side of the province.

“This will decongest the ports of Cebu City and will be a great source of employment to residents not only in Toledo but in the south west of Cebu,” Osmena said.

The project has a budget of P644 million initial from a loan from the Land Bank of the Philippines and some local funds.

“And we welcome private investors interested along the way to complete the project and then the port construction,” Osmena said.

There will be oil depots in the planned port area which will solve further accidents of exploding oil tankers from happening.

Very recently, Osmena reported there were two fuel tankers which had an accident, in barangays Magdugo and  Media Once. It resulted to the death of six people.

With the port there will be no more need to transport fuel in long distances.

For his part, PRA Rubiato said they are assuring full assistance to  Toledo City as they go about constructing the project.

“There are environmentally sound ways in constructing a reclamation other than the usual dumping of materials,” Rubiato said.

The project is expected to be done in two years with most of the materials from the areas owned and operated by Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development Corporation (ACMDC) and Carmen Copper Corporation (CCC