There is no need to reintroduce the takeover ordinance involving the Bacolod port because it will still be "killed" by the majority members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, Bacolod Councilor Dindo Ramos said yesterday.

Ramos said he is also not attending the executive-legislative caucus being sought by the majority with Mayor Evelio Leonardia to ask him to clarify his two concepts of takeover. For what purpose, when the ordinance proposed by the minority already recommended the takeover of the port operation for purposes of rebidding the same to other investors or contractors? he asked.

Ramos said the takeover ordinance was a product of the authority given to them by the SP sitting as a whole, in order to conduct a study on the options available to the city. He said the minority proposed it after the 60-day negotiation between BREDCO and the city failed and also because the Mayor was asking for the guidelines for the takeover of the port operation.

Ramos said he believes the killing of the proposed takeover ordinance on first reading Thursday was "pre-meditated" and that the majority will still kill it after having a caucus with the Mayor. "Because the majority killed the ordinance, we want to listen to what option they have in order to protect the interest of the city," he said. The majority members, composed of Councilors Catalino Alisbo, Ana Marie Palermo, Elmer Sy, Reynold Iledan, Arturo Parreño and Marx Louie de la Rosa, voted against the proposed takeover ordinance on first reading Thursday. Those who voted in favor were Ramos, Councilors Lyndon Caña, Homer Bais, Jude Thaddeus Sayson and Greg Gasataya. Councilor Al Victor Espino was out of the session hall before the ordinance was taken up, while Councilor Jocelle Batapa-Sigue abstained.

Batapa-Sigue said she is not against the idea of taking over the operations of the port as a remedy that the city can pursue to claim what is due to it under the contract, as long as it is undertaken with the aid of a court of law.

She said the proposed takeover ordinance covers not only the port operation but the whole, reclamation project which is ultimately a very crucial task since the city has no special economic zone. She said she wants to hear the clear-cut plan of the executive because any false move on their part now will have long-term effects on the future generation. "If I and the people of Bacolod can be convinced by the executive and the councilors who are for the takeover that their proposal is the most ideal solution to the problem to protect the interest of the people-then I will support their stand," she added. Espino yesterday said he had a pre-determined trip to Manila Thursday and he had informed the presiding officer, Acting Vice Mayor Greg Gasataya, about it. He said he was not able to vote because the item was taken up only after he had already left to catch his flight.

Espino said his vote would have been in support of the motion of Alisbo which was to table the ordinance until the proposed dialog with the Mayor on his actual intention on the takeover issue. "I am consistent with my previous stand to have a caucus with the Mayor to determine his stand on the issue," he said, adding that he is for takeover for the purpose of rebidding.

De la Rosa said he believes there is a need to continue renegotiation since 60 days are not enough to decide on the issue.*CGS

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