The Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) and Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) have signed a deal for a 204.9-hectare reclamation project that would be part of the development of the Port Irene in Barangay Casambalangan in Santa Ana, Cagayan.

CEZA is the government agency supervising the Cagayan Freeport, while PRA is the government agency primarily responsible for integrating and coordinating all reclamation projects nationwide.
Under the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed on April 13 at the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) office in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, the two agencies will work together on the reclamation and land development inside Port Irene. The deal was signed by Secretary Raul L. Lambino, CEZA Administrator and Chief Executive Officer, and Atty. Janilo E. Rubiato, PRA General Manager and Chief Executive Officer.

The proposed project includes three islands. One island will have a total area of 31.01 hectares, the second island, 52.13 hectares, while the third, 117.5 hectares – to be constructed and built into an onshore processing/upgrading facility.

Also included in the deal are the mandatory requirements to be submitted by CEZA to the PRA which will be subject to review and evaluation before the proposed reclamation project takes place.

As PRA coordinates and administers all reclamation projects across the country, its approval indicates that the government has thoroughly evaluated the development plan after consultations with stakeholders.

A mining company Agbiag Mining and Development Corporation — as the mining contractor —will be the lead partner of CEZA’s proposed reclamation project.

Based on the signed agreement, the PRA will guide CEZA on the mandatory requirements that the latter has to submit, including feasibility studies and a final environmental impact statement (EIS), documentation such as an environmental compliance certificate (ECC), and detailed engineering design, among others, before the PRA.

Sec. Lambino said, once the reclamation and land development project in Port Irene is completed, it will provide sustainable development in the region.

“As an economic driver, CEZA aims to reclaim to trigger the growth of the local economy and for the expansions of business areas within the Cagayan Freeport,” Sec. Lambino said.

In February this year, CEZA submitted a letter of intent to PRA to embark on reclamation and land development of the 204.9-hectare foreshore and offshore areas within the jurisdiction of Port Irene.

After reviewing the CEZA submissions, the PRA determined that the agency had complied with the requirements stated in Executive Order No. 74, hence, considering the proposed project pre-qualified.