Saturday, April 05, 2008 Traders worry the effects of port closure
NEGROS Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Nocci) has sought the city council of Dumaguete City for a "stop-gap" measure to arrest the menacing "after-effects" of the very disturbing and damaging total closure of the port.
Before the City Council's regular session Thursday afternoon, Lawyer Raymund Mercado, Nocci Vice-President, read the manifesto of the business group asking the immediate resumption of operation of all shipping vessels to and from Dumaguete City pending resolution of legal and labor issues involving the cargo handling operations.
Nocci, Mercado said, expressed its sadness and deep concern over the untimely closure of the Dumaguete port effective April 2, 2008 that ironically is part of the vaunted Strong Republic Nautical highway.
Mercado, however, understand the reason of the port closure which stemmed from the concern of the PPA over the safety of life and property in the port area and to put an end to children and women abuse.
"It was also openly declared that the closure was upon the instruction of the higher management of the PPA," Mercado stressed.
Nocci manifested its deep regret over the turnout of events, the recent violence and bloodshed at the port area and the eventual closure of the port, which is unprecedented and is allegedly a "first" in the history of the port operations of the PPA since its inception, he added.
He stressed the precipitate action of the PPA is too drastic and abrupt considering the nature of the problem at hand.
The business sectors believe, he said, that all possible legal, moral and other practicable remedies should have been exhausted by all stakeholders concerned to arrive at a "win-win" solution over the port problem and prevent further violence and bloodshed at the port area.
Nocci also anticipates that if the closure of the port if not recalled, dire consequences will come upon the economy of the city of Dumaguete and the whole province of Negros Oriental.
Mercado stressed that it would result in the distortion of supply and demand which will lead to the skyrocketing of prices of basic goods, commodities and essentials.
Nocci exhorts, enjoined and extols all stakeholders including the PPA, ALU-TUCP, PCBSI, city and provincial government, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Transportation and Communication, the Department of Labor and Employment and the Philippine National Police to immediately go back to the negotiating table and arrive at a permanent solution to this nagging and recurring labor problem, he said.
Businessmen believe the problem escalated into a peace and order problem and is expected to bring harsh consequences to the lives of locals if left unresolved, he added. (VLC)
