BACOLOD City Mayor Monico Puentevella said Tuesday that he will form a task force or a committee that will study the benefits of having two seaports operating in the city.
The two ports eyed are the city-owned port built by Bacolod Real Estate Development Corporation (Bredco) and the Banago port, which the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is planning to further develop.
Puentevella, during the opening rites of the Negros Business Week held at Robinsons Place Bacolod on Tuesday, said it is high time that Bacolod enjoys a free enterprise in port services with the plan of PPA to expand the Banago port.
It is also high time to stop the port monopoly and set reasonable rates on port services as a come-on to increase trade and commerce in Bacolod with the use of the two ports, the mayor added.
The task force will initially be composed of businessmen, including Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) president Frank Carbon, Alfredo Barcelona, Roberto Montelibano and others coming from the Bacolod Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Amity Group, hotel and restaurants sector, among others.
"My relationship with Bredco president Atty. Simplicio Palanca is okay. But it would be better if Bacolod will enjoy a free enterprise wherein the people here will have choices on where to avail of port services - Bredco or Banago. The important thing here is for the people to enjoy reasonable rates and that can only be realized if Bacolod will have two seaports operating simultaneously," the mayor said.
He added that he will listen to the voice of the businessmen who will be part of the task force that will help him and the City Council decide.
"I will follow whatever is their recommendation. I just want a recommendation from them to show that I have no interest here except to ensure the welfare of Bacolod," the mayor said.
He also clarified that the informal settlers are not the issue but the development of Banago port.
Nobody can touch them and there is no residential problem, Puentevella said.
"I don't know where it came from? For me, that is out of tune. The important thing for us is to bring back business to Banago port," he added.