Saturday, April 05, 2008 GMA to preside negotiations on Dumaguete port issue
PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is expected to preside over possible negotiations between the stakeholders of the Dumaguete port anytime on Friday.
Felizardo Calimpong, District Coordinator of the Conservative Associated Labor Union affiliated with the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP), announced this in an interview with the members of the media.
Calimpong said national president of ALU-TUCP will be joining the negotiations in Manila.
ALU-TUCP president is amenable to the idea of going back to the negotiating table together with other affected parties of the Dumaguete port problem, he said.
Calimpong also dismiss claims made by some individuals that the strikers will be throwing stones to whoever would pass by the port.
This is just speculation to "demonize" the union and that their group will be blamed for the closure of the port, he added.
He also said that among those who will sit in the negotiations in Manila include Negros Oriental 2nd district Representative George Arnaiz, top officials of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), PCSBI and the union.
He said he received an order from the union's national office about the scheduled meeting.
It is not the intention of the group to sow violence and hatred in the pier area, they are just protecting their rights as they were working there for several years already, he added.
On the other hand, he said the denial of their motion for reconsideration is not yet final and hence they are not complying it.
Expecting the national level negotiations, Representative George Arnaiz bared that regional officials of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has already ordered the reopening of the port in Dumasguete City.
The lawmaker lamented that he was not able to talk to the PPA national officials particularly PPA General Manager Oscar Sevilla because their cellphones could not be contacted.
PPA Regional Officer Oscar Santos assured the congressman that he will be also talking with ALU-TUCP president Democrito Mendoza about the port problem. (EBS)
