DAVAO CITY—Incoming Department of Transportation and Communications secretary, lawyer Arthur Tugade vows to resolve the issues concerning the Sasa port modernization project in Davao City within the year.
Tugade said he would review the details concerning the P18-billion Public-Private Partnership project that has been pending due to several issues raised by several stakeholders.
A group represented by lawyer Harry Roque has filed a petition before the Supreme Court to stop the project because it violated the writ of kalikasan.
Last December, the city council here formally objected to the project saying the DOTC had not consulted the local government.
President-elect Rodrigo R. Duterte himself opposed the project before he ran for the presidency. He believed it was overpriced.
“Within the year, maybe we can make a decision with the satisfaction of the majority,” Tugade said.
He said that he would not stop the development of the Sasa port, especially if it will be beneficial for the development of Davao City and Mindanao.
“We are committed to the development of Davao City, if it can help in the triggering development of the city, why don’t we do it?” Tugade said.
On Monday, Davao City Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang proposed to the city council the total review of the said project.