The Municipality of E.B. Magalona inked a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) for the construction, management, and operation of the proposed Saravia Municipal Port in Barangay Tuburan, at rites on Friday, Nov. 17.
The MOA was signed by Mayor Marvin Malacon, representing the municipal government with Vice Mayor Eric Matulac as witness at the Asenso Hall at the EB Magalona public plaza.
Engr. Rodel Lagmay, acting port manager of the PPA Port Management Office (PMO) Negros Occidental, signed as witness. The MOA will be sent to the Office of PPA General Manager Jay Daniel Santiago for signing.
Malacon, in his message, said 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 to make this dream of every Saraviahanon come true.
It will be the second port in EB Magalona, with the other one in Barangay Manta-angan being operated by a private company. The Saravia Municipal Port will be the first in E. B. Magalona that will be operated by the national government.
This means E. B. Magalona will soon become a busy gateway to Negros Island for those coming from Panay Island, the mayor said.
“The soon-to-be-constructed Saravia Municipal Port is expected to bring more economic opportunities to E. B. Magalona and will have a ripple effect in terms of growth and development of the town, and will be felt even by the next generations,” Malacon said.
Matulac said that the Saravia Municipal Port will be “another legacy” of the Malacon administration for E. B. Magalona.
The Sangguniang Bayan, led by Matulac, unanimously passed Resolution No. 2023- 170 on Nov. 13, 2023, authorizing Malacon to sign the MOA with the PPA on the management and operation of the Saravia Municipal Port.
At the signing ceremony today, Malacon transferred the jurisdiction of the Saravia Municipal Port from the Municipal Government to the PPA that will then “manage, operate, develop, administer, and maintain the port.”
Lagmay said they will endorse the MOA to the PPA Board of Directors for technical evaluation and for funding next year.
Also attending the MOA signing ceremony were Sangguniang Bayan members Gilda Parcon, Edgardo Agravante Jr., Gelita Parcon, Reylan Gamboa Sr., Joey Pugales, and Isidro Gomed Jr., former SK Federation president Edgar Jun Agravante, and newly elected officials of Barangay Tuburan, led by Punong Barangay Rolly Isugon.*