'We have the permit,' says Bredco lawyer
Bacolod Real Estate Development Corporation (BREDCO) has the copy of the approved permit from the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).
In fact, Bredco's lawyer Atty. Roselier Maalat said he is ready to present it to the public if only to erase negative speculations.
"We are holding the Certificate of Registration/Permit to Operate No. 330 (Permanent/Commercial) signed by PPA General Manager Atty. Oscar Sevilla", Maalat said in his text message."Condition No. 2 of which is....This certificate of registration effective upon conformed upon the terms and conditions up to November 26, 2028 coinciding with the expiry date of Miscellaneous Lease Agreement No. MLI-06451-000035-D", he added.
Atty. Simplicio Palanca, Bredco's President signed it on October 17, 2008.
"I think this is sufficient to prove that we have the permit to operate the port until November 26, 2028 unless sooner revoked by PPA or determined by the said agency", Maalat stressed.
The Miscellaneous Lease Agreement is a contract between Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Bredco.
Port Manager Engr. Enrique Puentebaja said that that his office already received a confirmation that PPA already issued the permit.
"Manila office called me and confirmed that GM Sevilla had signed the permit to operate of Bredco", he added.
The soonest time possible, he added, PPA central office will provide him the copy.
Puentebaja also said that the Commercial Services Department called him saying that there was already a permit released.
Last week, the local port manager said he checked it personally to their central office most specifically to the Commercial Services Department but it was negative.
The central office promised him to fax the copy if they have.
Acting Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson said the city has already written PPA central office informing the contention of the city to apply for the permit to operate the port.
Maalat on the other hand showed respect on the move of the city but he stressed that although the city is the 'naked owner', they (Bredco) have the right to hold the permit because of the agreement between them and the City of Bacolod under the provisions of the Comprehensive Revised Reclamation Agreement (CRRA).
"We welcome that, and it's up for PPA to grant it to the city or not", Maalat added.
Bredco will also contest it in court later depending of the circumstances but he did not elaborate more because of the pending case in court on the issue of Ordinance 454 or the controversial take-over ordinance.
The company's permit to operate the port will expire on February 2009 and under the PPA rules, documents for the application for renewal must be submitted six moths before.