The Cebu Provincial Government has come to the defense of the Cebu Port Authority in relation to the forcible entry of some personnel of the Cebu City Hall into CPA’s ongoing port expansion project near Malacañang sa Sugbo area last April 1.
“Enough is enough. Nag-apil-apil ang mayor sa teritoryo nga wala siyay labot. Dili na iyang kingdom,” Gov. Gwen Garcia said during a media briefing at the Capitol on April 8.
RA 7621, which was enacted in 1992 and created the CPA, gave the agency autonomy in its areas of jurisdiction which include “all seas, lakes, rivers and all other navigable inland waterways within the Province of Cebu, including waterways within the Province of Cebu, including the City of Cebu and all other highly urbanized cities.”
This means that the CPA need not secure a permit from the Cebu City Office of the Building Official (OBO) in order to proceed with its construction of reinforced concrete deck in its Baseport near the Malacañang sa Sugbo area to provide additional berthing spaces and cargo back-up area.
The project is seen by CPA to increase the cargo handling efficiency, decrease vessel queuing time, and promote commercial growth, among others.
On April 1, however, personnel of the Cebu City Hall particularly from OBO, Prevention Restoration Order Beautification and Enhancement (PROBE), and Cebu City Legal Office forcibly entered the Cebu Baseport premises to serve a cease-and-desist order issued for lack of OBO permit, despite the fact that the CPA is outside City Hall jurisdiction.
Gov. Gwen said she has to make her position known because the ongoing row between City Hall and CPA does not just affect Cebu City but the entire Cebu Island as CPA does not just serve Cebu City but the entire Cebu Island.
In fact, the CPA is not just a regional port, but an international one, catering to passengers and cargos to and from Asian countries. Any disruption in its operations, therefore, is a disruption in Cebu’s economic activities as well as cast a negative image on Cebu before the national and international community.
It administers all ports located in Cebu Province, thus, effectively separating these ports from the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) system, with Cebu being the only island in the entire country that has its own autonomous and independent port authority.
“Apparently, this act has been ongoing, and each time, it becomes bolder and more aggressive. The Office of the Mayor has proceeded with impunity because no one has spoken up,” Gov. Garcia said.
CPA General Manager Francisco Comendador III, who was also present at the media briefing, said CPA will take legal action for what happened so their operations will remain undisrupted.
“Rest assured, there will be legal action after what happened. Welcome, kaayo, Gov., ang imong pagpakabana. I know this is not good for the entire Cebu. If dili ni nato mabadlong, mahimo tang kataw-anan sa mata sa katawhan,” Comendador said.
The media briefing was also attended by lawyers Rory Jon Sepulveda, Donato Villa Jr., Bret Monsanto, and Lyca Ortiz. | BJR