MARITIME WATCHKEEPER

Maritime Review
July-August 2006 Issue
pp 16-17
 
The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has approved the terms of reference of the privatization of the Manila North Harbor, the second time this year, giving the entire facility to a single operator and allowing the entry of shipping firms into port operations.

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An anti-graft case has been filed against the heads of DOTC and DOJ, and the captain of Super Ferry 14 for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act No.30) in connection with the subsequent investigations conducted into the cause of the sea accident.

Fatemah Remedios C. Balbin, Founder-President of the Foundation for Social Justice filed the case against the three respondents with the Office of the Ombudsman today. A copy of the complaint against Secretary of Justice Raul Gonzales, Secretary of Transportation/ Communications Leandro Mendoza and Capt. Ceferino L. Manzo of Superferry 14 is available here.

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By Nelson Flores
Inquirer
Last updated 10:13am (Mla time) 07/18/2006
OMBUDSMAN Merceditas Gutierrez has suspended for six months without pay Cebu Ports Authority general manager Mariano Martinez after he was found guilty of using a government vehicle in bringing and fetching his daughter from school.

Gutierrez said she ordered the suspension of Martinez after investigating a complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas alleging among others that the ports manager used a government vehicle for his own personal use.

ICTSI eyes North Harbor as anti-monopoly policy is reviewed
July 13, 2006
Updated 01:26am (Mla time)

Inquirer
THE Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has recommended that a policy against having one operator for Manila’s seaports be lifted because the threat of a monopoly no longer exists, PPA general manager Oscar Sevilla said.

The policy was adopted because “there was no competition,” Sevilla said. “Today, we have that already.”

He said the operations of Pier 15 were in direct competition with those of the North Harbor, which is dedicated to domestic shipping. The privately run Harbor Center, situated beside the North Harbor, is also a direct competitor, he added.

“The fear of monopoly is gone,” he said. “It is no longer applicable now.”

The PPA recommended the policy change to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) last week, Sevilla said.

He said the NEDA representative to the PPA board indicated that it would take at least 30 days for the policy to be decided.

International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI), which operates the Manila International Container Terminal, has expressed interest in Manila’s North Harbor, Sevilla said.

ICTSI executive vice president Edgardo Abesamis gave the expression of interest, he said, and added that officials of Harbor Center, Lorenzo Shipping Corp. and Magsaysay Shipping Lines had met with him to inquire about the status of privatization plans for the North Harbor.

Sevilla said an auction might be done “within the year.”

He said it would be best to privatize the North Harbor as a unit rather than as several operations.

“If you will divide North Harbor because of the volume, it might not attract bidders,” he said.

Offering the port in its entirety would give the winning bidder the right to develop the entire facility and give it the leeway to develop not only cargo facilities but even the terminal, which could be used for tourism, he said. With INQ7.net
©2006 www.inq7.net all rights reserved

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) yesterday said that International Container Terminal Services Inc. has signified its interest to bid for the right to operate and develop the North Harbor.

Oscar Seviilla, PPA general manager, said Edgar Abesamis, executive vice president of ICTSI, told him of the company’s interest.

Enrique Razon, owner and president of ICTSI, had been vocal from the start that the project can only be viable if it is run by one and not three as earlier planned by the government.

ICTSI officials earlier said the company would like to expand abroad.

Officials said in earlier interviews that it prefers to check possibilities in China or South America.

Some of the successful terminals that the firm currently operates include Tecon Suape SA in Brazil and the Baltic Container Terminal in Poland,

Last year, it took over facilities in Naha, Japan and in Madagascar in Toamasina. This month, it bought 95 percent of Indonesia’s PT Makassar Terminal Services.

Malaya
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