The plan by the Philippine Ports Authority to develop the Banago port does not only contravene government policy but can also drive away private investors.

This was the statement yesterday of Simplicio Palanca of the Bacolod Realty Development Company when told about the plan pushed by Rep. Anthony Golez (Bacolod City) for the PPA to develop the Banago Port into a modern port.

Palanca pointed out that it is the policy of the national government not to encourage government to venture into projects or businesses where the private sector has already ongoing projects.

“You don't use government money to fund the very business, which will kill ongoing private businesses,” Palanca said.

Besides, he pointed out, the government already had lost more than a billion pesos when it tried to rehabilitate Pulupandan port with virtually no shipping line calling there.

The BREDCO port actually has more than enough room to handle more inter-island and overseas ships, Palanca said.

“Now that it (BREDCO port) has started to pick up, the PPA is being encouraged to develop another competing port,” he added.

“BREDCO funds were invested in the development of a port in the reclamation area. Now, that this become a going concern government will step into the picture and try to kill it,” he said.*RLE

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