Monday, February 04, 2008 Stumbling block for Olango
EFFORTS by officials of Barangay Sta. Rosa, Olango Island to impose a P1 regulatory fee from users of its causeway may end up a futile because control of wharfs and similar structures is exercised only by the Cebu Ports Authority (CPA).
Vice Mayor Mario Amores said that during his stint as councilor of Lapu-Lapu City in 1988, officials of Barangay Marigondon made a similar move but were blocked by a law that provides that a barangay that has failed to share the construction cost of the causeway cannot impose a user’s fee.
“We have referred the ordinance of Barangay Sta. Rosa to our legal office, but as I have experienced in (the) Marigondon case, it would be difficult,” he said. Best for bry.
Amores, however, believes the move is best for the interest of Sta. Rosa as its commerce is very much dependent on the causeway.
Amores also said that this prohibition is compounded by the fact that only CPA has sole jurisdiction over wharfs and similar structures.
Barangay Ordinance 01-2007 of Sta. Rosa states that a P1 levy is to be collected from people who would board a passenger motorboat from Sta. Rosa to the mainland. The accumulated fee is to be used for maintenance of the causeway.
Amores, however, admitted that there is really a need to ensure that funds are available to maintain the structure.
“In fact, during the time of the late mayor (Ernest) Weigel, the City allotted a big amount of money for the repair of the dilapidated portion of the causeway,” he said, adding that during that time, the City demanded to takeover operational control of the causeway from CPA. (AIV)
