MOAP Board tackled issues to continue as Economic Enterprise

By PJTremedal,BND-MisOcc/CIB-OCM

Oroquieta City- The new administration of Governor Herminia M. Ramiro called recently the Board of Directorsof the Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park (MOAP) in Sinacaban, Misamis Occidental to thresh out issues and concern to include the proposed privatization of the park or continuing it as an economic enterprise of the provincial government.

It may be recalled that during the administration of now Congressman of the 2^nd District, former Governor Leo Loreto Ocampos, in 2005 said park was established to cater to the environmental and tourism development needs of the province to promote and be recognized as a tourist destination.

With Resolution No. 067-04, Governor Leo Loreto Ocampos was authorized to enter into contract with private investor in January 2004, and by February 1, 2007 a supplemental provision was added in the MOA between BFAR, PGMO and Mr. Foad Akhavan of USASIA Corp which embodied a profit sharing scheme of 30 percent for the province in its annual net income and the Local Government Unit of Sinacaban will be shared another 30 percent from the province share.

The Office of the Governor find means to finance the said project thru a Trust Fund system with the asset acquisition of more or less 35-M to include a mini zoo, hotel and function rooms, restaurant, and other fix and features to make it as a government run facility for tourist attraction and destination.

As it becomes an attraction of the province it operates as it is mandated by its policies, MOAP has agreed to be opened to private investors in financing and establishing more attraction like the Dolphin Island which is under operation of Mr. Faod of USASIA Corporation as he was the private investor granted by the MOAP.

As of August 31,2010, Mr. Foad has initiated a cost of asset acquisition worth 16.275-M. MOAP becomes a tourist destination people all around the province and nearby cities and towns begin to visit the place and it become a name promoting Misamis Occidental first eco-aqua tourism destination. With its Dolphin Island, MOAP become more interesting to visit and enjoyable to see as it progress into a place of learning and recreation.

Late this week, Governor Hermie Ramiro as she wants to strengthen her GO HERMIE Agenda decided to call the board to tackle issues regarding MOAP’s privatization or to continue its operating system as embodied in its governing policies as an economic enterprise of Misamis Occidental government.

In the COA record, as it was presented by Mrs. Helen Tenchavez, Provincial Accountant, MOAP from 2005 to 2009 and January to June 2010 operation netted only to some 14.44-M as it is manifested in its Report of Operation of 96.33-M less the Report of Expenses of 82.19-M.

The visual presentation was indeed accepted by the Board but questions surface whether MOAP has really income as it was expected, breakeven or MOAP encountered losses against its capitalization.

In the meeting, the board decided to extend its operation for six months to monitor whether or not MOAP will gain with its recommendations of refurbishing, restructuring and rehabilitation of some features and fixtures and other plans to sustain MOAP as an economic enterprise.

As an economic enterprise of the provincial government, the board also recommended to create a separate Bids and Awards Committee, separate Human Resource Management, as it was learned that asset acquisition and hiring of personnel is charge with the province from 2005 up to this report.

With the recommendation, the provincial government will continue to subsidized MOAP as an economic enterprise, however, its management will be definitely different from the provincial government operations.