Saturday, April 05, 2008 Legislators, PCSBI urged PPA to resume port operations By Edmund B. Sestoso
MEMBERS of the local legislative council from the opposition and administration ranks joined hands in calling for the local office of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) to resume operations to avert an economic disaster to the city as well as the province.
In last Thursday's regular session, the City Council concluded that issues on cargo handling be handled and resolved in a proper venue.
Dumaguete City Councilor Manuel "Chiquiting" Sagarrbaria who principally authored the resolution said that it is now high time the port authorities may reconsider its earlier decision for the sake of the city and the province's economy.
The PPA recently ordered the closure of the port claiming that it is good for public safety and also pending a labor dispute between the conservative Associated Labor Union-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) and Prudential Customs Brokerage Services Inc. (PCBSI), which is the PPA's contractor for arrastre and stevedoring services.
A day after the closure, several vessels both cargo and passengers utilized private ports in some major parts of the province which is 10 kilometers away from Dumaguete City.
With the move of the city legislators, PCSBI called on the PPA to immediately lift its closure order.
LAWYER Joel Obar, PCSBI's Legal Department Head, said that right after the regular session, Mayor Agustin Perdices and the Philippine National Police (PNP) assured them of a passage and movement through the thoroughfares going to the port with ease.
The mayor also assured an unobstructed movement within and outside the port premises, he added.
He also pointed out the denial of the workers' motion for reconsideration makes the mass action "purely a mob which must be restrained and stifled by the authorities without delay."
On the other hand, Councilor Antonio Remollo stressed in the same regular session that it is high time for the local government officials to intervene in the problem so as not to exacerbate the issues and they should immediately act on a proper resolution.
