DOTr, Albay gov’t sign deal to develop 2 local seaports

SIGNED. Department of Transportation Undersecretary for Maritime Elmer Francisco Sarmiento and Albay Governor Edcel Greco Alexandre Lagman show copies of the memorandum of agreement they signed on the development of two seaports in the municipality of Bacacay on Tuesday (Feb. 27, 2024). Both the ports of Cawayan and Pili have each been allotted a budget of PHP20 million for their repair and rehabilitation under the agreement. (Photo: Department of Transportation – Philippines/Facebook)

The memorandum of agreement (MOA), signed on Tuesday by DOTr Undersecretary for Maritime Elmer Francisco Sarmiento and Albay Governor Edcel Greco Alexandre Lagman, stipulated a budget of PHP20 million each for the repair and rehabilitation of the ports of Cawayan and Pili.

“[The ports] facilitate trade and economic growth for the barangays and towns, and also the eco-tourism promotion of the province,” Sarmiento said during the signing ceremony at Cawayan Port.

Lagman thanked the DOTr for the project and highlighted its benefits to the two villages.

“These will be used for fishing activities and even ang eco-tourism namin when the day comes na masintegrated na ang mga ports namin sa Albay (even our eco-tourism when the day comes that our ports become more integrated in Albay),” he said.

Both Cawayan and Pili ports are in the municipality of Bacacay, located on the eastern side of Albay.

It is a second-class municipality with a population of 72,485 according to the 2020 census by the Philippine Statistics Office in 2021.