Saturday, April 05, 2008 Bizmen: Port problem is a social volcano ready to erupt anytime
THE present problems at the Dumaguete pier area involving mainly the trio entity, the local office of the Philippine Ports Authority, the Associated Labor Union and the Prudential Services Brokerage, Incorporated serves as the social volcano ready to erupt anytime when the button will be accidentally or improperly pressed.
This is the bold statement issued by the Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NOCCI) during their appearance at last Thursday's regular session of the members of the City Council.
NOCCI Vice President Raymund Mercado said that they had presented their concern to the local legislators because they represent the whole city population.
"You serve as the voice of the people being elected legislators, the reason why we had presented this concern to you" stressed Atty. Mercado who is also the governor for Western Visayas of the Inegrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP).
To avert what they fear, the businessmen group has called on PPA, ALU, PCSBI , the city government, the provincial government, DTI, DOTC, PNP to immediately go back to the negotiating table to resolve the pressing issues.
The lawyer businessman also said that if the stakeholders will go back to the negotiating table, it is expected that they will arrive at a lasting and permanent solution to the nagging and recurring labor problem which he said has escalated into a peace and order problem at the Dumaguete port area.
He said that if the issue remains to be unresolved, it is also expected to bring about the harsh consequences to the lives of all peace loving Dumaguetenos and Negrenses.
Coupled with these, the businessmen also called on the port authorities an immediate stop gap measures and arrest the menacing after effects of what he called as disturbing and potentially damaging scenario.
The businessmen also called on the PPA to immediately allow the resumption of operation of all vessels and or fast crafts ferrying passengers to and from Dumaguete City, pending the resolution of some outstanding legal and labor issues involving the cargo handling operations of the Dumaguete port. (EBS)
