• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson yesterday said that the provincial government is in agreement with the municipal government of Cauayan to “pursue the renovation and revival of the Bulata Port”.
He confirmed this after Mayor John Rey Tabujara hinted at reviving the Bulata Port owned by the Maricalum Mining Corp. (MMC), which still has unpaid taxes with the municipal government.
Tabujara said they are still trying to determine if MMC, which has closed the port for many years now, will continue its operation.
He added that they need the help of the provincial government on the unpaid taxes of MMC.
“From there, we may able to negotiate,” the mayor said.
Tabujara confirmed that representatives of Tsuneishi Heavy Industries of Japan, who met with him several times, are looking into the Bulata Port as an investment site.
He told them to coordinate with the governor first, the mayor said.
Lacson said that the provincial government has no plans yet on what to do with the closed MMC port.
“We have not decided yet on what to do with that. I would like to think that Maricalum still has a stake in the port. We still have to study that,” the governor said.
Lacson lauded Tabujara for looking for ways to improve the economy of his town.
“Having a port is one way of generating income,” he pointed out. | GB
