The Department of Transportation is expecting a February approval of the New Cebu International Container Port by the National Economic and Development Authority.

DoTr Undersecretary for Planning and Project Development Timothy John Batan said that the agency is seeking the approval of the NEDA board to hike the project cost which had grown since the first board approval in 2016.

He added that once approved and after contract awarding, the construction can start within the first quarter of the year.

To recall, DoTr Undersecretary for Maritime Elmer Sarmiento recently explained the project encountered delays in procurement due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The lowest bid was more than the cost estimate, thus paperwork had to be redone and another approval from project funder Export-Import Bank of Korea and the NEDA board was sought.

NEDA-7 regional director Dolores Molintas said that the DoTr submitted a request to the NEDA-Investment Coordination Committee to increase project cost and extend loan validity and implementation period.