Strongly opposing the conversion of the Dumaguete City Port to a mere terminal, Oriental Negros Governor Gov. Arnaiz said he will propose to officials of Negros Occidental the creation of a Negros Island Ports Authority.

Armaiz who is set to meet with Negros Occidental officials this week to discuss his proposal, said he is objecting the decision of the Philippine Ports Authority to convert the Dumaguete Port into a mere port terminal under the jurisdiction of the Tagbilaran Port, in consonance with the PPA's rationalization program.

Under his proposal, Arnaiz said, the Negros Island Port Authority will be managed by a private group from the island, with the local government from both provinces helping in the operation.

"We can expect more development and improve port services if we will be the ones to manage them," the governor said.

Right now, he added, the "PPA Manila is the one deciding for us" but whose decisions are not good for the localities.

For instance, Arnaiz said the plan to convert the Dumaguete Port into a mere terminal under the Port of Tagbilaran is cumbersome and unfair to Dumaguete and Oriental Negros.

For one, he said, the Dumaguete Port was established in the 1980s, way ahead of the Tagbilaran Port which was created only in 1995.

He added that once the proposed set-up is put in place, any problem that will crop up in the port operation or any administrative matters in Oriental Negros will be referred to Bohol, which is very impractical and time consuming.

Also, Arnaiz said along with the set-up is the plan to reduce the number of PPA personnel from 51 to 15, purportedly under the concept of a "lean and mean" organization.

"The PPA should have streamlined its head office and strengthened its port offices in the provinces to improve port services," he said.

While admitting the need for Congress to enact a law for the realization of his proposal, Arnaiz said he is confident that there will be no problem, if the 10 congressmen from the two provinces of Negros will support it, like what their counterparts in Cebu did, when the Cebu City Port was created.*RA

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