The Bacolod City government is still waiting for the counter-proposal of the Bacolod Real Estate Development Corp. to its proposal for the increase in compensation for the operation and management of the port, Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia said yesterday.

But whether they agree or disagree, the deadline for the negotiation is on March 6, Leonardia said. "We will finalize everything Monday and give report to the people at the soonest possible time, perhaps by March 8, he said.

Leonardia said the city is proposing an increase to P17.5 million from the P800,000 annual rental of BREDCO, based on figures taken from the Philippine Ports Authority.

Meanwhile, BREDCO based its proposal on a 25 percent increase which shows a very big disparity from the amount proposed by the city, he said.

"But since this is a negotiation, we are still open to their proposals," he said.

BREDCO president Simplicio Palanca yesterday said the proposed amount of P17. 5 million is "out of this world." He said BREDCO cannot come up with a P17.5 million net profit a year because of many factors. He said the accomplishment of the port after 42 years is an "act of heaven" because they almost lost patience due to several court cases filed against them by the city in the past.

"I appeal to the city and to the people to consider what BRECO has accomplished," Palanca said, considering that big politicians before did not believe Bacolod City could have a port because its shorelines were shallow.

Palanca said the city should inspire businesses to come in so it will earn more.

Leonardia said the Comprehensive Revised Reclamation Agreement between the city and BREDCO provides that the primary consideration why the city allowed BREDCO to reclaim was that the port was supposed to go to the city. And the port is now earning so much, he said. When this contract was signed in 1995, both parties believed that the amount of P800,000 was supposed to be compensation for the use of the property of the city and only for the meantime, he said.

"I have not yet closed the door," Leonardia said, "and with barely a week to go, I hope BREDCO will also come up with something reasonable, logical and fair to both parties."*CGS

back to top