By: Joe Sprite

The municipal authorities are trying hard to eliminate the effects of the closure of the Jagna pier for repairs and expansion. It came at an inconvenient time. The municipality is about to celebrate is 375th foundation day and many expats are expected to come. Most of them will come from Mindanao and they will disembark at the pier a band greeting them. With the repairs going on that will not be possible. Not only that, since the landings will be in either Tagbilaran or Ubay, trade and commerce of the municipality will experience a slow down.

As we had said before, the schedule for repairs cannot be moved. The contract had been signed and any delay will be the cause of an overrun. The municipal authorities tried to persuade the contractor to allow at least one passenger ship to dock on schedule. The ship would be a RORO type, which docks in its end not sidewise taking up space. This may be the solution but if the arrangement will hamper the repairs, this might not be reached. The authorities are at a dilemma. It they want the construction postponed, the contractor may transfer their operations to other parts. If they allow the contractor to continue, then the festivities will be dampened. What to do? Any delay would cost money.

The Philippine Ports Authority is a national agency. When the Philippines wanted to obtain a loan the funding agency allowed the loan on condition that an agency, which will be responsible for port operations from construction to operation and maintenance of ports and harbors will be created. So in every port there is and agency of the PPA. As a national agency, they may or may not coordinate with the Local Government Unit in their operations. Perhaps all they have to do is to notify the LGU of their proposed activities.

Had the schedule of expansion did not conflict with the festivities there would have been no problem. The passenger traffic of Jagna, those passing the port, swell in the vacation months of March, April and May. It slows down from July to November. It picks up a little in December and January. Then it ebbs until the March. It is rather inconvenient that the festivities of this year fall on September. If an irresistible force meets an immovable object, something's got to give, so runs the song. This time the municipal schedule ran against the national schedule so someone has got to give and probably it will be the municipal authorities. It will have to look for means so the guests would not be inconvenienced. There must be a compromise. Whatever it is, we do not know. The festivities must proceed and the construction of the pier must proceed.

The mitigating circumstance is that the guests will see the progress going on in their old town. Perhaps, it will encourage them to do something for advancement of the municipality. Jagna is no longer the sleepy fishing town of the past. It is a bustling municipality linked by Internet to all parts of the world. Good roads, enough amenities and peaceful environment make the sojourn of guests pleasant. Even if Jagna will not be a tourist destination, it will become a tourist route. If the celebration is well advertised, the expats will come despite the inconveniences. All we have to do is to promise them that their stay will be memorable. Perhaps five years later – that is if we live that long – the bash will be bigger and more memorable, what with the improved port facilities.