Members of the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod should think about the welfare of Bacolod City and its people and not grant the request of the Philippine Ports Authority for a port zone delineation for the Banago Port, Abang Lingkod Party List Rep. Stephen Paduano said yesterday.

Paduano said they should not give up the port. If there is a need to develop and reclaim the Banago area, it should be done by the Bacolod City government.

He said he will not hesitate to condemn the act of the SP if they act favorably on the request of PPA.

Enrique Fuentebaja, port manager of the Philippine Ports Authority Port Management Office in Bacolod City, is requesting the Sangguniang Panlungsod to be allowed to present the port zone delineation and development plans of the Banago port before the City Council.

Paduano is asking what benefit Bacolod will get if PPA is granted the port zone delineation when it has not even explained well its alleged mismanaged operations of the Himamaylan, Hinobaan and Pulupandan ports.

If PPA is claiming that the Bacolod Real Estate Development Corporation, which is owned by the city, is charging excessively in terms of port fees, he said it is its responsibility to regulate BREDCO.

Paduano also said PPA is not regulating because it is getting huge revenues from wharfage of more than 50 percent of its income.

He said PPA should not compete with BREDCO but should complement it.*CGS

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