E.B. MAGALONA, NEGROS OCCIDENTAL - The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has committed to developing the municipal port in E.B. Magalona, Negros Occidental, aiming to enhance connectivity between Negros and Panay Islands and spur economic growth in the region.
According to Philippines News Agency, Mayor Marvin Malacon, in a statement on Saturday, shared that the proposed Saravia Municipal Port in Barangay Tuburan is expected to transform E.B. Magalona, a town in the third district of Negros Occidental, into a bustling gateway for travelers from Panay Island. The development of the port is anticipated to usher in a wave of economic opportunities for the town, which is neighbored by the cities of Talisay, Silay, and Victorias.
On Friday afternoon, a significant step was taken to realize this vision when the municipal government signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the PPA. This agreement, signed during a ceremony at the town's Asenso Hall, lays the groundwork for the construction, management, and operations of the new port. Mayor Malacon represented the municipal government in the signing, while Rodel Lagmay, acting port manager of the Port Management Office Negros Occidental, signed as a witness for the PPA. The agreement will also be signed by PPA General Manager Jay Daniel Santiago.
Lagmay indicated that the MOA would be endorsed to the PPA Board of Directors for technical evaluation and funding considerations for the next year. He lauded Mayor Malacon's efforts to rejuvenate the old port, recognizing its potential impact on regional economic trade and transport. The development of the Saravia Municipal Port is seen as a strategic move to provide an alternative travel route between Panay and Negros islands, expected to serve as a catalyst for regional economic change.
Additionally, another port in E.B. Magalona, located in Barangay Manta-angan, is currently operated by a private company and serves the E.B. Magalona-Ajuy, Iloilo route.