SAN Carlos City Mayor Gerardo Valmayor Jr. said Thursday their community remains vigilant of the seemingly puzzling presence of international ships docked in their municipal waters.
Valmayor, who talked to Sun.Star Bacolod during the 1st Negros Island Region Protected Area Management Summit held in Bacolod City, said that he has inquired with the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) about the matter because the agency has the authority in the layover of vessels.
The port of San Carlos is under the control and management of the PPA, he said.
Valmayor said the PPA explained to him that “there are times that the ships don’t have trips so they park” at the municipal waters, near Sipaway Island.
“They go in and out. If they will be needed, they pull out from the area,” the mayor added.
Valmayor said they also sent a letter to the Department of the Interior and Local Government about the layover of the ships, but the agency has not coordinated with the city government yet.
The PPA said they have jurisdiction over the areas where the boats are docked, he added.
Valmayor said he is preparing another letter for the PPA and also for the Office of the Ombudsman to “really check” on the authority of the PPA in the layover of ships in the waters of San Carlos.
“They should have a permit from Marina (Maritime Industry Authority),” he added.
Right now, there is only one ship docked but sometimes, there are even four docked at the same time, the mayor said.