Business leaders in Bacolod City are hoping that the city government and the Bacolod Real Estate Development Corp. will avoid going to court and instead find a solution that will be acceptable to both parties.

The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod approved on third and final reading Wednesday the “takeover ordinance” involving the operation and management of the port at the reclamation area in Bacolod City with seven positive votes against five negative votes and one abstention.

BREDCO lawyers are planning to file a case in court once the ordinance becomes effective.

James Chua, Bacolod Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry president, said “With the advent of Christmas and the New Year, I am still hoping that both parties will come to their senses and sit down and talk to find a solution that will be acceptable to both parties.”

He said going to court is not the best solution. He believes the discussions they have conducted before were not comprehensive so there is a need for both parties to sit down again to find a “win-win” situation, he said. If not, both BREDCO and the city will be at the losing end because the matter will lead to along drawn battle, he added.

“If the city takes over the project, will BREDCO still expand, repair or improve its facilities?” Chua asked. “If this happens, it is the people who will suffer,” he said

Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Roberto Montelibano said the city and the private sector investor should try to settle the matter since this will not be good for potential investors coming in.

He said the BREDCO project came about after 45 years of sacrifice because the port is needed by the city. If it were not constructed in Bacolod we will still be using the Pulupandan port whose location is not ideal because of very strong current, he said. “I appeal to the city and BREDCO to settle this once and for all in the near future,” he said

Former Councilor Lyndon Caña said a “win-win” solution is always possible if there is mutual respect and sincerity. But if a renter will not pay a measly P800,000 annual rental for years now, how can a so called “win-win” solution be possible? He asked. If there is no more respect for the city, the city should have no regrets getting back what belongs to it, he added.

Caña said being business-friendly does not mean being a “doormat and a slave.” Anyway, if BREDCO files a case, mediation will still follow, he said.

He said some councilors have asked him to be counsel for them in case BREDCO files a case against them and he has agreed to that.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia said he respects their (businessmen) opinion. “But we also have to emphasize to them that the case of BREDCO is not an ordinary investment per se in the sense that there is a contract existing between the city and BREDCO,” he said. The circumstances are different and it could not affect the “business-friendly” attitude of the city, he said.

Leonardia said they want to have the official copy of the ordinance and see if it conforms to the idea that they have conceptualized because, in the process, there were some amendments made and some of them were major. As soon as he gets a copy of the ordinance he will act on it within 10 days, he said.

If ever a Court case is filed, they will simply have to wait and see how the court will decide, Leonardia said.

Meanwhile, Leonardia appealed for the understanding of the public concerning the traffic situation especially this Christmas season. He said Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr. is trying to do his best to ease the problem.

Gamboa said the position of the Bacolod Traffic Authority Office head will soon be filled and they will make an announcement later.

On the other hand, Leonardia said they have received reports that another group called Bacolod Anti-Traffic Alliance (BATA) is being formed and also the Bacolod Anti-Basura Alliance (BABA). He said they suspect there is someone with an agenda behind these groups.

Gamboa said these groups will not deter them from performing their job. “We welcome their observations although the Mayor is doing his best to address the complaints of these people,” he said.

Gamboa said there is also a group called “Bantay Banwa”, but their motto is “Stop Complaining, Do Something.”*CGS

back to top