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Sunday, September 11, 2005
Port body wary about squatter relocation
THE Cebu Port Authority (CPA) is reluctant to push through relocating and eradicating squatters at Cebu ports.
CPA Commissioner Hever Bascon said the issue is “too political” that it needs coordination with and the cooperation of the Cebu City Government.
Bascon said that while CPA is willing to give P10,000 as disturbance compensation to each squatter-family who will leave the area, there is no assurance that they will not come back.
This, Bascon said, is where they will need the help of the City Government.
Squatters
Bascon lamented that the Cebu ports are the only ones in the country that have squatters, whose presence is posing a hindrance to the full implementation of the International Standard for Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.
The Cebu International Port (CIP) is already ISPS code-compliant as certified by the Office of the Transport Service (OTS) of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).
But the CPA can’t make the domestic ports compliant because of the squatters.
Aside from complying with the ISPS Code, Bascon said getting rid of the squatters could spark rapid development within the areas and its vicinity because investors will be encouraged to come in.
But other CPA officials doubt if they could count on Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña for that, after the CPA refused to pay about P250 million in real estate taxes.
Pending
Commissioner Carlos Co said the Cebu Port Commission, the CPA’s government body, decided to hold any payment of taxes to the City Government while there is a pending case on this matter before the Supreme Court.
The CPA questioned before the SC the collection of taxes because it considered itself an extension of the National Government.
Co, who is also the vice president of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that if the High Tribunal will order CPA to pay the taxes, payments will be made immediately. (EOB)
(September 11, 2005 issue)
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