Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. yesterday said hesupports the plan to establish a public port in Barangay Banago, Bacolod City, because wherever there is competition there is improved services.

Bacolod Real Estate Development Corp. president Simplicio Palancahas asked Transportation and Communication Secretary Manuel Roxas to stop the Philippine Ports Authority from constructing a port for roll on-roll off vessel activities in Barangay Banago.

Bacolod Cityalready has a port that is professionally managed by BREDCO, he said.

The existence of two ports in the city will only succeed in them killing each other, Palanca said.

The governor said it is up to Roxas to assess the situation but he does not think the BREDCO port will die with another port in existence in the city, considering the volume of cargo now entering the province.

Competition will ensure better services and lower fees, he said.

COAL PLANTS

The governor yesterday also said he continues to support the bid to put up coal-fired power plants in Cadiz City despite the opposition of environment groups.

Renewable energy sources have their limits, the province needs to have its own stable power to draw in investors, and to protect it if its supply transmitted by cable from other islands gets cut off, he said.

The governor said he is also favors a nuclear power plant in the province because, although it will be more expensive to build, it will provide cheaper electricity to consumers.*CPG

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