Forced port takeover looms

The government will force protesting workers at the North Harbor to vacate the port, a top official of the Philippine Ports Authority said on Friday.

In a phone interview, general manager Oscar Sevilla said the government will set an ultimatum for them to cooperate with PPA and the Manila North Harbor Port Inc., the consortium of Manuel Pangilinan’s Metro Pacific Investments Corp. and Reghis Romero II’s Harbour Centre.

“When they become unreasonable with their demands, we will be forced to conduct a takeover even if they still don’t agree,” Sevilla said, asking local police to deal with possible violence.

According to him, the PPA and the Manila North have granted port workers their unpaid benefits from a previous employer plus absorption after the takeover.

“We are already giving them more than what they are asking,” Sevilla said.

He said authorities would be consulted tomorrow on other ways to evict the workers.

“PPA will not allow further delay on the takeover,” Sevilla said, noting that recourse to new employees was possible.

He said all equipment have been installed to rehabilitate the port.

“At this point, its just the labor problem that is delaying the takeover,” Sevilla said.

Manila North was scheduled to take charge of the country’s oldest but busiest port in January for 25 years and to reduce port fees by up to 20 percent this year.

The project was awarded on Oct. 8, 2009, covering more than P 14.5 billion in infrastructure, equipment and technology expenses.

The consortium also committed to pay the PPA P6.8 billion in fixed fees during the contract period.

Rehabilitation covers computerized loading and loading of cargoes, widening of roads and dredging of surrounding waters to accommodate bigger vessels including luxury ships on top of an enlarged depot. –Elaine Ramos Alanguilan, Manila Standard Today