Hope Bredco case is
settled amicably

It is my hope that, for the sake of the city, the case between Bacolod and Bredco does not reach the courts. And media here can help by not putting more fuel to the fire. But I myself do not know how can that be done.

Bredco president Sammy Palanca said Bacolod does not own the port. Bacolod Mayor Bing Leonardia said Bacolod owns the port. Who can decide on this but the court?

And this will be the big problem. Court suits cost money and take time. I reiterate what I said, there is a need for a renegotiation. But this must be at the initiative of both parties. Just one party cannot do it. And it is not good for a party to go to the negotiating table without the sincere desire to meet halfway.

That is negotiation, you meet halfway. This means the city to lower its quotation for rental and for Bredco to go higher to meet it half way. Where is the halfway is for them to determine.

***

I was at first doubtful that a settlement could be reached after Sammy Palanca said the port does not belong to the city but to the national government. And Mayor Leonardia saying Bredco port is owned by the city.

We do not want to add more fuel to the fire. We just hope a settlement can be had. Otherwise, the public will be hearing nothing but Bredco issues.

Then if the case goes to court, the operation might be adversely affected.

I reiterate my belief that governments must be investment friendly. In some cities and in other countries, they go to the extent of declaring tax amnesty to investors in order to attract them.

In some countries, they assure profit repatriation. This means they can send back to their country of origin the profits they realize. There are countries that are reclusive that do not allow profit repatriation.

But, in the competition for foreign capital, most countries now needing foreign capital are giving incentives.

In mid-sixties, I took graduate studies at the University of the East. My baby thesis was on foreign investments and my adviser was the former Central Bank Governor Andres Castillo.

***

I made that study because under then President Diosdado Macapagal, there was a bill called foreign investments law. The purpose was to attract foreign investors to the country.

This step was made by Macapagal because of the very small inflow of foreign investments after then President Carlos P. Garcia whom Macapagal succeeded introduced the retail trade nationalization law.

The target was the Chinese retailers but other foreign investors were alarmed. They skipped the Philippines. So Macapagal introduced that law but it was not effective because investors were not convinced.

Only when Marcos became president that this was resolved. He did not repeal the retail trade nationalization law. He made Chinese retailers Filipinos. Chinese nationals were naturalized en masse as Filipino citizens.

And business improved. This time came the big malls. Look at the big malls they are all owned by Chinese-Filipinos. Think of SM Shoe Mart, Robinson, and Gaisano.

Without the automatic naturalization law of Marcos we could have not improved. Thanks to the investors.

***

There are many things that call for investors in Bacolod. SM ShoeMart at the Reclamation can bring in plenty of business here. But it siphons a lot, too, from here.

The investors we need are those who put up businesses that employ a big number of people.

When we look at Hong Kong and Singapore we can see that big investors are flocking there. And the reason is the good business climate given by government.

Of course, business climate also refers to the peace and order and government's attitude towards taxation.

I go back to my theme today and yesterday. There is no need for a confrontational stance between the city and Bredco. We must find a win-win solution. I agree with the statement of Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry President and newly elected Ceneco Director Bobby Montelibano that the city must tempter its stand on Bredco.

Bobby is right when, he said, by taxing Bredco too high, it will ultimately be the public which will suffer because all businesses pass on the cost to the people.

If the city will bother to make a survey of businessmen, their stand will be like that of Bobby Montelibano. Bredco will just increase the charges it will make on the wharfage and even the gate charge.

***

I was with three personnel of the United States Dept. of Agriculture yesterday afternoon: Jude E. Akhidenor, agricultural attaché of the U.S. Embassy in Manila; Ms. Pia Francisca A. Ang, agricultural specialist; and Ms. Jessica V. Thompson, food aid intern of the Embassy.

They visited me in my farm, accompanied by Provincial Agriculturist Igme Tabianan and Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Renante Decena. They are in Negros visiting different projects of Gov. Joseph Marañon.

I forgot being a newspaperman when they asked me plenty of questions and I kept on answering them about biogas, pig and poultry, and pig raising, and vermi culture.

When they left after some 35 minutes that was the time I remembered I have not gotten information from them.

Some four days earlier, veteran and popular movie actor Joel Torre was with his friend, a Japanese cinema director. And it was good while sitting there in my farm. I had all the time asking questions on the cinema produced by his Japanese friend, I forgot his name, about the Igorot way of life.

I look forward to Joel Torre producing a movie about Negros like the "Oro, Mata, Plata" of his mentor Peque Gallaga.*

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