LINGAYEN–Construction work for the Sual International Shipping Port, which was set back by the May 10 election activities, is finally set to start this month.

Sual Mayor John Rodney Arcinue, speaking at the Enkwentro Forum of the Pangasinan Press Club last week, announced that Phase 1 of the project, funded by the initial P90 million from the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), has been contracted out to Golden Ridge Construction of Bataan.

The succeeding phases of the project will be funded by the P100 million committed by the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), P200 million from the Pangasinan provincial government and P100 million from the municipal government of Sual.

Arcinue said he is confident that the new administration of President Benigno Aquino III will support the project, initiated by Governor Amado Espino Jr. under the previous Arroyo administration, even as the PPA contribution has yet to be released.

The mayor said the P100 million counterpart of the municipality will be obtained through a loan from the Philippine Veterans Bank (PVB).

The port, located at Baquioen Bay (a natural cove in the Lingayen Gulf where ships shelter in case of a storm in the open sea) is part of the development equation drawn up by the municipal government to boost economic opportunities in Sual and other parts of western Pangasinan.

Meanwhile, Arcinue said the town’s training center is targeting to produce 500 welders and 500 sewers for the operation of the port.

Currently, Sual is qualified to become a city income-wise with its P126 million budget, benefiting largely from the presence of the Sual Coal-fired Power Plant run by Team Energy but its 32,000 population is way below the required 100,000.—LM

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