Sun.Star: PPA to close down Dumaguete port

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines - The Philippine Port Authority (PPA) plans to temporarily close the port of Dumaguete if no solution is given to the ongoing conflict between the port workers and the new cargo handler Prudential Customs Brokerage Services Incorporated (PCBSI). Lawyer Joel Obar of the PCBSI said they were ordered by their Manila office to cease their operation for the meantime since the situation is still very complicated. This is also what Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) undersecretary Elena Bautista recommended. However, Dumaguete Port Manager Renato Tolinero clarified that he is still waiting for the official closure notice since Monday afternoon. He said port authorities are worried about the safety of passengers in case the police and strikers clash again. City Government's Legal Counsel Ray Lagahit pointed out that they already did everything they could to explain to the strikers the situation. Lagahit added that he respects the suggestion of PPA to stop its operation for now while the National Labor Relations Commission (NRLC) has not decided yet on the motion for reconsideration filed by the port workers. The lifting of temporary closure of the port is indefinite until NRLC in Cebu City answers the motion for reconsideration filed by the port workers affiliated with Associated Labor Union-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP). Damages More than P20 million of damages were incurred due to almost three-week strike that halted cargo operations in the port. Tolinero said the P20 million amount represents the loss of the port revenue, cargo-handling operators, shipping companies and other port consignees. He said the situation is getting worse everyday. This is reason the PPA has decided to close the port to avoid further damages, he said. But some top officials of shipping companies in Dumaguete opposed the proposal to close the port. Adel Capili, agency in-charge of the George and Peter Lines, told Sun.Star that closing of the port would only worsen the damages. He said their firm incurred not less than P50,000 losses a day after the strike started last March 13. Closure of the port will cost them an average of P80,000 from their operations. George and Peter Lines has refused to haul cargoes from Cebu City to Dipolog via Dumaguete and vise-versa because of the incident, he said. Aside from that, hundred of passengers will be affected every day. There are five shipping lines in Dumaguete City that operates daily -- George and Peter Lines, Cokaliong Shipping Lines, Montenegro Shipping Lines, Shuttle Ferry, and Aleson Shipping Lines. Passengers of commercial ferries such as Ocean Jet, Delta, Wessam, WG&A Super Ferry, and Supicio Lines will also be affected. Mario Elnar, Agency Manager of the Cokaliong Shipping Lines, said PPA should have consulted the business sector and shipping companies in Dumaguete before they issue the notice of closure. Tolinero, the Dumaguete port manager, assured he will meet with the business sector after he received the notice. As of Tuesday, cargo vessels are temporarily docking at the Tandayag wharf in Amlan town. - Sun.Star