Monday, March 31, 2008 Clash fails to end port strike By Victor L. Camion
THE violent dispersal at the port of Dumaguete City between policemen and striking port workers Saturday failed to stop protesters from blocking arrastre and stevedoring operations of Prudential Customs Brokerage Services, Inc (PCBSI) Sunday.
The management of PCBSI, new cargo-handling firm of the city, said Sunday that the striking workers affiliated with the Associated Labor Union-Trade Union of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP), were still blocking cargo trucks and PCBSI personnel from going into and coming out of port premises.
Some strikers told Sun.Star they allowed passengers and cargoes for roll-on, roll-off vessels docked at the Dumaguete port but blocked cargoes for stevedoring under the PCBSI management.
Some police officers also said the strikers were still blocking cargo trucks.
They appealed to the strikers to refrain from blocking the cargo trucks but the strikers did not heed them.
A hundred policemen are stationed at the port to maintain peace and order.
PCBSI counsel Joel Obar, in statement, said the problem at the port of Dumaguete metamorphosed from a simple peace and order matter to economic sabotage.
"It is a wonder how 50 or so individuals could be able to hostage the community, the region, or even the nation," he said.
"Almost the entire machinery of government was called upon to resolve the issue but to no avail," he added.
Obar said the local government executives, Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), and Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) did their best to resolve the issue.
PCBSI, Obar said, apologizes to all port users for the firm's inability to deliver normal services due to circumstances beyond its control.
Obar said PCBSI has been in the industry for almost 30 years and has and excellent service record.
"It is hoped that the award granted to PCBSI is respected and honored by all, including the losing bidders," the lawyer said.
