The Cebu Port Authority (CPA) announced it wanted to convert the berthing area behind Malacanang sa Sugbo into a "docking area for international cruise ships" in order to promote tourism.
According to CPA Commissioner Mike Acebedo Lopez, the area was ideal for international voyages because the sea level was deep. It had served as the docking area for Logos Hope ship, that sells books around the globe.
Lopez added it was close to popular tourist spots like Magellan’s Cross, Fort San Pedro, Basilica Minore del Sto. Santo Nino de Cebu, The Metropolitan Cathedral. The CPA Commissioner also said he had talked with the Department of Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat and DOT 7 Director Shahlimar Tamano and proposed the use of the century-old customs building as an entertainment center or a tourist library.
Executive Secretary Cesar Medialdea officially returned to BOC (the Bureau of Customs) the building called Malacanang sa Sugbo. However, it was not mentioned whether the berthing area would be returned to the CPA.
The BOC Port of Cebu cash division chief Conrado Abarientos said they were now sending engineers and architects "to determine how much the government can spend for the repair of the centennial building."
According to Abarientos, the government had allocated over P300 million for the building of a new BOC Port of Cebu terminal at Pier 2 when the old building was still occupied by Malacanang (official residence of country's President in the Visayan Islands).
However, Abarientos revealed they would divert the funds for the repair of the old building, that was built by the Americans in 1910.