Thursday, April 03, 2008 Legislator: Pier closure to worsen problem By Edmund B. Sestoso
NEGROS Oriental 2nd district Representative George Arnaiz is against the closure of the Dumaguete City port.
The congressman said the decision of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is not helping solve the problem but will in fact only worsen it, both in the economic and peace and order aspects.
Arnaiz said that what the PPA should have done was to temporarily assume or take over the handling of the arrastre and stevedoring operations at the port as it had done in previous years before the arrival of the Prudential Customs Brokerage Services Inc. at the port.
The PPA was not amenable to this, according to Arnaiz.
Mayor Agustin Perdices said he was informed that Arnaiz was talking to PPA Manager Oscar Sevilla as of Wednesday morning.
Arnaiz reminded PPA officials that port operation is a public service that should not stop for any reason even for a short period.
Tolinero also said this is the first time in his work that he encountered this labor problem at such high magnitude.
He said he never expected to get the blame for the melee at the port since he had nothing to do about it.
Tolinero, who hails from Iligan City and has served and managed ports all over the nation for 32 years, described the people in Dumaguete City as having a unique kind of bravery and outlook.
