PIER SITUATION
GETTING COMPLICATED
The Philippine Ports Authority has announced that it will temporarily close down operations in the dumaguete port area until such time that the city government can assure safe access of entry and exit of cargoes in the main gates of the port area.
As of today, the main entrance and exits are still swarming with threats by displaced pier workers who vowed to stop the entry and exit of cargoes until their demands are met.
Since the prudential new arrastre is not willing to give in to all their demands , and the PPA is cannot do anything about it short of give administrative assistance to port operations, then the prudential is also announcing that it is playing a passive role, meaning, it will not take anymore initiative until the city government can assure safe entrance and exit of pier cargoes to and form the port area.
This is now the judgement call of the city government executive department led by the city mayor. It concern should not only be the displaced workers, but the entire dumaguete citizenry who will surely be eoncomically displaced if no early and lasting solution can be effected on this arrastre labor problem at the pier.
Congressman george arnaiz told DYEM FM Dumaguete tonight that he is not in favor of PPA closing down pier operastions even if temporary. Arnaiz said that pier job is public service and it should not stop for any reason even how temporary. Cong. George said that rather, the PPA should consider taking over temporarily the port stevedoring operations until such time that the impasse will be solved. This is a sound suggestion if only to serve the ultimate stakeholder which is the general public who in the face of padlocked pier gates are also threatened with economic problems which is the sure increase of food commodities, which is a consequence of the impasse in finding solution to the labor problems at the wasterfront.. When will this end? Only time can tell.
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Tue Apr 01, 2008 8:32 pm