Cebu Baseport expansion done

ONE of the busiest and main gateways in the Philippines, the Cebu Baseport in Cebu City has completed its P989-million port expansion, and it is seen to accommodate an increased vessel traffic, improve cargo-handling capacity and enhance the overall port productivity.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Cebu Port Authority (CPA) inaugurated on Friday, Nov. 26, 2021, the port expansion project at Berths 7-10, Cebu Baseport.

The budget for the Cebu Baseport project was sourced from the CPA corporate budget. The project includes the construction of a 40-meter width and 310-meter length reinforced concrete deck and back-up/operation area, port lighting system, complete mooring and docking facilities and gantry crane rails to accommodate the projected increase of Gantry Cranes to achieve shorter turn-around time for cargo operations.

Undersecretary for Maritime ADM George Ursabia and Assistant Secretary for Maritime VADM Narciso Vingson Jr. and CPA General Manager Leonilo Miole led the inauguration and ceremonial lighting at Pier 4, 5th Street, Cebu Baseport, Cebu City together with the Cebu Chamber of Commerce President Felix Taguiam and representatives of cargo-handling service providers.

Phase 1 of the expansion project had a budget of P339 million, and it started in August 2017 and was completed and operationalized in January 2019. Phase 2 commenced in February 2020 with a budget of P600 million and was turned over to CPA in October 2021 following the completion of contract with UKC Builders Inc.

Meanwhile, the CPA also announced the construction of the San Fernando Port Project in Barangay Poblacion, San Fernando, Cebu that will begin in January 2022.

The project will be funded by the DOTr and has an approved budget for the contract of P336,114,557.47 for the demolition of the existing dilapidated port and the construction of a new roro facility in Poblacion.