by CC Galvez, IO Labo

CASTILLA, SORSOGON (22 March) — This small, insurgency-torn municipality is preparing for the construction of an all-weather seaport that would offer safer facilities for cargo and passenger vessels operating between Bicol and all other destinations in the country and abroad.

According to Mayor Renato Laurinaria the proposed seaport will be located in a seven-hectare land along the coastline of Sorsogon Bay between Barangays Poblacion and Dancalan this town.

Congressional Representative Francis Escudero of Sorsogon’s first district has allocated P5 million of his priority development assistance fund (PDAF) for the project while the municipal government set aside P2 million as counterpart, Laurinaria said.

He said the congressional allocation would finance the construction of the wharf and passenger terminal while the municipal counterpart will be used in the acquisition and development of private lands at the project site.

The site is ideal for the port facilities that can accommodate even big international cargo ships and roll-on-roll-off passenger vessels servicing the route between Bicol mainland, Masbate and the Visayas Islands, Laurinaria said.

He added It is a deep cove located at the southwestern section of Sorsogon Bay that is bounded by high mountains making it safe from typhoons and other weather disturbances. “We expect this project to be completed before the end of this year and as of now, we are in the process of acquiring the private lands within its site through expropriation proceedings.”

Laurinaria said the municipal government would acquire 10 hectares, as the three-hectare portion of it will be used as relocation site for at least seven families that would be dislocated by the project.

The project would be the initial part of the proposed international seaport and economic zone originally planned for the area.

Last year, a P2.5 billion investment was committed by a foreign business consortium to the projects but it was withdrawn when an influential politician in the province blocked its implementations for political reasons, according to Laurinaria.

Laurinaria pointed out “we were disappointed by the withdrawal of the foreign investor from that project but that never stopped us from pursuing the establishment of a seaport here because it surely will serve as stepping stone for this municipality and its people towards progress and prosperity.”