Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday said the titling of the lots where the ports are located at the Reclamation Area in the name of Bacolod City should be done expeditiously, with or without politics.

This was his reaction when asked if a possible team-up with Vice Mayor Renecito Novero in the 2007 election would affect his stand on the matter.

The Mayor had decided in October 2005 that a takeover should be pursued if a qualified renegotiation with BREDCO failed.

As for the speculations on a possible team up with Novero, Leonardia said proper announcements on politics will be made in due time.

On his part, Novero said their team up is not impossible. He also said that his consultations with the people has inspired him to run for Congress.

Leonardia said he belongs to the Nationalist People's Coalition and whatever decisions they agree upon, that is what they will announce. As of now, everything is all unofficial and just possibilities, he said.

Meanwhile, Leonardia said that, aside from resolving the BREDCO issue, he hopes the Sangguniang Panlungsod will immediately act on the traffic re-routing before SM City Mall operates, and on the slaughterhouse, which are awaiting their final approval.

On the other hand, Councilor Lyndon Caña said the takeover ordinance is now pending on second reading and that during consultations with the Philippine Ports Authority or the Philippine Reclamation Authority, the SP was given technical and legal advice that, it is best that the titles over the ports be placed in the name of the city of Bacolod.

A certain provision in the Comprehensive Revised Reclamation Agreement of 1995 says that the titles over the ports should be transferred in the name of Bacolod City free from all liens and incumbrances and at no cost to the city, Caña said.

City Legal Officer Allan Zamora said that, under the memorandum of agreement between the city, PPA and BREDCO, it is the PPA, now the PRA, that has the responsibility to secure the title of the share of the city.

He said he had written the PRA in August regarding the transfer of the titles of the ports to the city but until now they have not received any reply. He said he will follow the matter up.

Novero said if the city intends to take over the port operation and management, it will have to rescind the contract first and rescission has to be a judicial process.

He said the takeover cannot be done by local legislation since it will open the floodgates of lawsuits against the city and that may jeopardize its interest.*CGS

back to top