An executive-legislative caucus is scheduled to be held at noon today to discuss the proposed suspension of toll fees collected by the Bacolod Real Estate Development Corporation and an upward adjustment in the operation of the city-owned port, and other issues.

Councilor Caesar Distrito yesterday said they will also take up with Mayor Evelio Leonardia the Deed of Coveyance involving 19 hectares at the Reclamation Area which the Philippine Reclamation Authority is turning over to the city; the operation of the finger port which the PRA says has no authorization, and an update on the cases involving the reclamation project like the takeover ordinance.

Distrito has proposed a resolution urging the city mayor to take legal action to stop the collection of toll fees in the BREDCO-operated Bacolod City Port until it is authorized by the city government, based on the recommendation of the PRA.

Councilor Al Victor Espino also proposed another resolution urging the mayor to initiate or commence the renegotiation of the upward adjustment with BREDCO as mandated in the applicable provision of the Comprehensive Revised Reclamation Agreement. This is without prejudice to the outcome of the Civil case 08-13147, pending before the Regional Trial Court Branch 42 in Bacolod City, he said.  

Distrito said that, aside from the mayor, also expected to attend the caucus at the Bacolod City Government Center are department heads of the City Engineer’s Office, Office of the Building Official, City Legal Office and City Assessor’s Office.

Distrito said that during the public hearing involving the deed of conveyance, the PRA was surprised to learn that BREDCO is collecting toll fees when it has no authority from the city, which means the collection is illegal, as this is not covered by the tripartite agreement involving the city, BREDCO and the PRA, he said.

During the public hearing, it was also discovered that the finger port has no authorization from the PRA and the city, and this is also not included in the tripartite agreement, he added.

Distrito said they will also discuss during the caucus the upward adjustment or increase in the port rental since the city owns the port and all the roads leading to it.

BREDCO is earning billions of pesos for operating the port but the city only receives P800,000 annually or about P70,000 a month, he said. The city deserves something more since it is the one repairing and maintaining the roads, he added

Under the contract, an increase should be made every five years, Distrito said.*CGS

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