An executive-legislative caucus was held at the Bacolod City Hall Saturday for the City Council to take up the request of the Mayor for authority to file a case for judicial determination of the fair rental value of the management and operation of the Bacolod port.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia, in his letter to the Sangguniang Panlungsod dated March 1, said records will show that the re-negotiation between the city and the Bacolod Real Estate Authority on the matter had failed and that, after a year, the SP has not yet decided on what action to take. Meanwhile, the status quo is not proving to be beneficial to the city, he said and it is for the best interest of the city that they come up with a clear policy direction on the subject, he added.

Leonardia said that since the issue on the fair and reasonable yearly rental was not resolved during the re-negotiation, and until now they have not yet established a definite policy direction, he is proposing that he be given authority by the SP to file the appropriate case for judicial determination of what constitutes a fair and reasonable yearly rental for the management and operation of the port.

Councilor Lyndon Caña said the caucus Saturday was requested by the SP to clarify certain issues like whether the Mayor is abandoning the option of takeover since it looks obvious this cannot be attained for lack of the necessary number of votes.

He said the original City Ordinance of 1961 requires that the port be exclusively run by BREDCO but it is now being run by Top Harbor International Inc. He said the personality of THII is different from that of BREDCO.

Caña said he also questioned what will happen to other violations and other issues like the toll fees, and the excess authorized reclamation area share of the city which was not given by BREDCO.

He said the Mayor and City Legal Officer believe that these other issues would only make things more complicated so the solution is to file a case focusing on the rental, without waiver of other issues to be raised at the proper time.

Caña said they will call a special session for that issue alone, while members of the SP will study the matter.

He said he will also review the documents and study the matter and check the records of the Comprehensive Revised Reclamation Agreement between the city and BREDCO.*CGS

back to top