Manapla mayor ‘100 percent in support’ of port project in Pta. Salong

Says once it operates, town will be on the map not only for puto and pinasugbo

Manapla Mayor Manolet Escalante reiterated his full support to the port facility in Barangay Punta Salong in the town which will start operating soon.

“That port has been a dream of Manaplahanons. It has been years and years that we have waited for it. It was politicized and derailed in the past, but now with God’s grace we have seen it materialize and will finally open soon,” Escalante told newsmen Wednesday in Vernacular.

Escalante said that “once it opens, Manapla will no longer be known solely for its puto and pinasugbo. That port will also serve as a beacon to usher more development for the town.”

In reiterating his full support to the port project, the mayor said, “all Manaplahanons are excited because it will boost our economy, rice trading will be faster with rice coming from Panay, and we will be serving the sugar farmers from the northern part of Iloilo who will now mill with northern Negros because we are nearer to Ajuy and Concepcion… from 45 minutes to one hour.”

The mayor of Manapla added that passengers crossing to northern Iloilo and vice versa will have much shorter travel time even those from Bacolod when the Manapla Port Stevedoring & Arastre (MPSA) in Barangay Punta Salong.

“Using that port will also significantly reduce travel time to Boracay and Sicogon…to Estancia, Capiz province. The port will also boost employment in Manapla.

“I am 100 percent supporting that pier. I would love to see it operate. To answer people’s query, well, I would like to assure everybody that it has come to my attention that provisional and other permits have been given. Let us all pray that everything will be put in place so it can already operate,” the mayor added.*