North Harbor workers opt to settle

NORTH Harbor workers have “agreed in principle” to set aside their concerns so that the busiest port in Manila can be turned over to its new operators, a Metro Pacific Investment Corp. (MPIC) executive said. “I understand we have agreement in principle on the labor issue. I’m just waiting for the confirmation,” Jose Ma. Lim, MPIC president and chief executive, told reporters on the sidelines of the TV5 launching on Thursday night.

The labor issue has been a roadblock for Manila North Harbor Port Inc.’s (MNHPI) takeover of the port.

MNHPI is 60-percent owned by Michael Romero’s Harbour Centre and 40 percent by MPIC, which is led by Manuel Pangilinan.

The port was supposed to be turned over on January 15, but the government decided to defer it because of opposition from labor groups and cargo handlers.

Based on the terms of reference, the company should absorb the workers provided they are amenable to this.

Oscar Sevilla, Philippine Ports Authority general manager, said that if the workers will decline the company’s offer, then the agency would have to seek the help of the police so that the facility would be handed over to the new operators.

He said the issue on Philippine Liner Shipping Association’s (PLSA) concession fees has been resolved. The PLSA earlier opposed the 5-percent concession fee because it may jack up freight and passenger rates.

MNHPI had said that it would earmark about P1 billion to P1.5 billion for the expansion of the port terminal.

For the next 25 years, the company will invest P14.5 billion to operate and manage the port. The regulator is also assured of P6.8-billion in revenues within that period. –DARWIN G. AMOJELAR, Manila Times