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A bill seeking to expand Cebu Port Authority’s jurisdiction to include Central and Eastern Visayas has been filed in the House of Representatives
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House Bill No. 335 aims to amend CPA’s Charter, to expand the port authority’s territorial jurisdiction from ports in Cebu to also cover those in Central and Eastern Visayas
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HB 335 author Cebu 1st district representative Rachel Marguerite Del Mar said the expansion is “envisaged to centralize and streamline port operations across these key regions”
A bill seeking to expand the Cebu Port Authority’s (CPA) jurisdiction to include Central and Eastern Visayas has been filed in the House of Representatives.
House Bill (HB) No. 335, authored by Cebu 1st district representative Rachel Marguerite Del Mar, aims to amend Republic Act (RA) No. 7621, or the CPA’s Charter, to expand the port authority’s territorial jurisdiction from ports in Cebu to also cover those in Central and Eastern Visayas. Del Mar filed a similar bill in the last Congress.
RA No. 7621, signed on June 26, 1992, created the CPA to specifically administer all ports located in Cebu province, thus, effectively separating these ports from the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) system.
The CPA began operations and officially took over all Cebu ports on January 1, 1996.
READ: Cebu ports’ cargo volume up 4.1% in first half
In her bill’s explanatory note, Del Mar said the expansion of the CPA’s jurisdiction is “envisaged to centralize and streamline port operations across these key regions, leading to enhanced efficiency and reduced administrative complexities.”
Del Mar noted that Central and Eastern Visayas have demonstrated significant economic potential, especially in terms of trade and passenger movements. Cebu is also part of Central Visayas.
Del Mar also noted that the expansion of the CPA’s jurisdiction is also a “proactive response” to the increasing trade and passenger traffic in these regions.
“By extending CPA’s jurisdiction, there is an opportunity to further catalyze economic growth and development in these regions,” she added.
Moreover, Del Mar said the amendment to the CPA’s Charter “seeks to ensure that the high standards of operation and safety protocols that the CPA is known for are uniformly applied across a broader geographical area, thereby elevating the overall quality of port services in the Visayas region.”
With a larger jurisdiction, Del Mar said the CPA can optimize the use of resources, including human capital, technology, and infrastructure, “ensuring that these are deployed efficiently and effectively to meet the growing demands of the regions.”
By consolidating port management under the CPA for these regions, the bill also aims to enhance the connectivity between islands, “facilitating smoother and more coordinated movement of goods and passengers.”
Under the bill, all existing facilities, including wharves, piers, slips, docks, bulkheads, cargo terminals, warehouses, cold storage, loading and unloading equipment, and passenger terminals and accessories within Central and Eastern Visayas, as well as other lands, buildings, and other properties belonging to or presently administered by PPA within Central and Eastern Visayas will be transferred to the CPA. Moreover, all assets, powers, rights, interests and privileges relating to port works or operations, including all equipment, will also be transferred to the CPA.
All ongoing projects in Central and Eastern Visayas relating to the rehabilitation and/or construction of port facilities and supply of equipment, will also be administered and undertaken by the CPA.
With these, PPA’s Port Management Offices in Central and Eastern Visayas will be abolished.
HB 335 has been referred to the House Committee on Transportation.
