Caña asks PPA not to renew Bredco permit
BACOLOD CITY – Former City Councilor and lawyer Lyndon Caña, through a letter, asked the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) not to grant a permit to Bacolod Real Development Corporation (Bredco) when the latter applies for renewal next year.
Caña, who is also known as the framer of the controversial "take-over" ordinance, informed the PPA that the City of Bacolod already passed an ordinance known as Ordinance No. 454 which paves the way for the city to take over the operation of the ports and the unfinished reclamation project from the reclamation area of Bacolod City which Bredco has contested in court.
He justified that what he did was in line with his capacity as taxpayer of the city and as legal counsel of the Vice-Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson, et al. in the case BREDCO vs. Bacolod City et al. docketed as Civil Case No. 08-13147, now pending in RTC Branch 42.
The letter dated October 21, 2008 is addressed to Atty. Oscar M. Sevilla, General Manager of Philippine Ports Authority based in Bonifacio Drive, South Harbor Port Area, Manila.
Caña also wrote another letter to Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Vice-Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson and the Sangguniang Panglungsod members, suggesting that proper communication be made by the city to PPA head office, to:
1. strongly oppose any application made by Bredco;
2. inform PPA Head Office of Bredco's unilateral ceding and assigning of its exclusive rights to operate the Port to a total stranger, the Top Arbor International Inc.;
3. and for the city itself, as owner of the ports at the reclamation area, to apply for permit to operate the port (which permit it can re-bid out or contract with other entities).
"The existing permit to operate the port of Bredco is due to expire on February 2009. Under PPA rules, an application for renewal of permit is made at least six months before the expiration of the said date," the letter stressed.
Caña presumed that by around this time, Bredco has already made or is about to make an application for the renewal of their permit to operate the port.
"All such measures as would protect the interests of the city are also most earnestly urged to be studied and taken by city," he also asked city officials.
He advised the city officials to consider it as "urgent" and bring the official communication personally to the PPA for proper disposition.
"I believe that this is the best way for the city to do as of now while waiting for the resolution of the court to the case filed by Bredco, questioning the constitutionality of the ordinance, asking for TRO or injunction and praying for its nullification," Caña said.