Almalbis regains cargo handling in Culasi port
ROXAS CITY – The Culasi Port Services, Inc. (CPSI) is again owned and managed by Former Barangay Captain Eleazar Almalbis after the Philippine Port Authority (PPA) regional office officially returned over it on January 1, 2010.
The turnover ceremony was held at the PPA terminal Building in Culasi and attended by the Almalbis couple, workers, employees and PPA Division Manager Edgar B. Sonza.
Sonza said that CPSI has an eight-year contract of handling cargoes in Culasi Port with the PPA central office. He also said that the turnover of transfer of the management and operation of the cargo handling services by PPA-Culasi Port Service to CPSI was directed by Leopoldo F. Bungubong of PPA Manila.
According to sources, CPSI, which handles cargo handling in Culasi Port for almost 30 years, was terminated as cargo handler while the cargo services was also taken over by PPA on February 5, 2005 for the reason that the CPSI was not able to comply with the requirements set by the said government agency.
It was also learned that the PPA required CPSI to upgrade equipment to cater cargoes in Culasi Port. However, the said cargo handler failed to do so thus, the PPA took over the operation.
However, the Almalbis couple believes that the reason behind the PPA takeover was not non-compliance in upgrading equipment but was politically motivated.
Almalbis was a victim of party discipline when he withdrew his support to Former Vice Mayor Roberto Ignacio during the latter’s reelection bid and instead gave his support to Former Vice Mayor Allan Celino, who won in the 2004 elections.
Meanwhile, Atty. Eleazar “Junjun” Almalbis, Jr. strongly denied that the return of cargo handling services to his family was made possible by Former Department of Agriculture (DA) Usec Jocelyn “Jocjoc” Bolante and Sen. Gringo Honasan. Bolante is the political ally of Almalbis while Honasan is the father-in-law of singer/Actress Barbie Almalbis, daughter of the Almalbis couple.
He said that he questioned the PPA’s takeover as illegal and they waited for five years to regain their franchise.
The Almalbis couple assured of good cargo services in Culasi adding that the CPSI was the Top 10 Most Outstanding Cargo Handler in the country in Aug.7, 1999 and earned and award for its sustained efforts in enhancing the efficiency, safety and professionalism in the delivery of cargo handling services and up-to-date remittances of government share prompt payment in July 9, 1999 in Manila.
