The Bacolod City government and the Bacolod Real Estate Development Corp. failed to agree on the increase in compensation for the management and operation of the port during their final meeting yesterday.

The city is pushing that BREDCO pay P17. 5 million annually but BREDCO is proposing only P1.4 million, P600,000 higher than its present P800,000 annual rental that has been in effect for several years now.

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia said the city panel agreed to start evaluating what transpired during the 60-day negotiation period and to frame what is to be embodied in their report.

We will meet today to evaluate the result of the negotiation and finalize it so we can give an official report this week, he said.

Secretary to the Mayor Roger Balo said the meeting held at the Casino Hotel yesterday was tense because the city panel wanted to protect the interest of the city, in the same way the representatives of BREDCO wanted to protect BREDCO's interest.

He said the executive-legislative members of the city panel will incorporate their reports which they will sign and the Mayor will make the pronouncement.

Leonardia had earlier recommended a take-over of the port operation and management if the 60-day negotiation fails.

"I don't want to emphasize this because we don't want to appear as if we are threatening, but, that was embodied in my position as stated in my recommendation to renegotiate," Leonardia said. "Nothing is personal here, this is simply business, that we hoped would benefit the city."

Leonardia said the city will stick to its original position and will make its recommendation to the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod because an ordinance and legislative action will be needed for the government to take over. This is because, under the circumstances, we believe the city is entitled to a just and fair share of the operation of the port, he said.

Meanwhile, Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella yesterday said he is giving his full support to whatever decision of the Office of the Mayor and the SP will eventually make relative to the ongoing issue involving the BREDCO port in Bacolod City.

In a press statement issued to the DAILY STAR yesterday, Puentevella said, "I have full confidence that Mayor and the members of the City Council will be able to resolve the issue with the best interest of our City and the Bacoleños as the primary consideration, whether it be upward increase or other courses of action that they will deem proper and fair under the circumstances," he said.

Puentevella reiterated his call for BREDCO to pay its outstanding tax obligations which, up to this time, remain unsettled with the Bureau of Internal Revenue. "I suggest that, prior to any resolution of the ongoing negotiation with the city government, BREDCO must first or simultaneously take care of its unpaid taxes with the national government which might have already run to millions of pesos over the years, he added.*CGS

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