The most awaited P205 million commercial port in Cadiz City has finally opened recently.
It is the first commercial port ever constructed and run by the Cadiz City government.
Cadiz City Mayor Patrick Escalante , his brother Board member Salvador Escalante Jr. and city officials joined the passengers in welcoming the first shipping lines M/V Margarita that docked from Bantayan Island, Cebu.
The shipping line has a seating capacity of 100 and sails from Cadiz to Bantayan and vice- versa twice a day.
The newly opened commercial port will serve inter-island vessels from Cadiz to Iloilo, Batangas, Bantayan and cargo ships to Cebu City.
It has 22 lineal meters of commercial wharf to accommodate 600,000 to 700,000 metric tons of cargo annually, 1.8 hectares back up for service roads, storage facilities and area for local embarking and disembarking vessels.
Provincial Board member, and former Cadiz City Mayor Salvador Escalante, Jr. explained that the port was the result of the study participated in by professionals and different sectors through City Development Strategic Planning (CDSP). The vision contained in the plan was to develop the city as the “Gateway and Premier Center of Agro-Fishery Resources of Negros Occidental.”
For his part Cadiz City Mayor Patrick Escalante thanked the Divine Providence for the completion of the biggest project the city has ever achieved. He said “there are many sacrifices, financial crisis and difficulties that we encountered during the construction of this port.”
The prices of fuel and materials increased and the contractor was about to give up but with the effort of former Mayor Salvador Escalante and his officials this project has come to materialize.
Mayor Escalante said the port will benefit not only the business sector but also the people living near the port.
“This will help boost our economy, that’s why we must thank God for giving this gift to our city,” he said.
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Source: PIA, May 31, 2011; Image: tfode