Atty. Harry Roque, legal counsel of the petitioners against the Sasa Port modernization project says the project is “graft-labelled” because according to the Philippine Ports Authority, the budget is only P4 billion but was later increased to P18 billion. (Ace R. Morandante/davaotoday.com)
DAVAO CITY– Petitioners against the Sasa port modernization project accused the government of increasing from P4 billion to a “graft-labelled” budget of P18 billion to raise election funds.
Atty. Harry Roque said, “The truth is, they just want to earn for the election and the Davao people will be the one to pay it.”
Bonifacio Tan, President of Davao City Chamber of Commerce & Industry Inc. said that the P18 billion budget is not viable, as this would mean increased port fees.
“If this project will push through, higher charges for the businessman’s cost in shipping the goods means lower buying price for the agricultural products,” Tan said.
Tan and Roque are among the petitioners who also include: Councilor Diosdado Mahipus; Pilar Braga of Consumer Movement of Davao, Antonio Vergara, a candidate for city councilor in Samal, Peter Laviña, spokesperson of presidential aspirant Rodrigo Duterte, Engr. Pastor Lozada, Jr. of Samal Island Resort Owners Association, and Benjie Badal, spokesperson of urban poor group, Kadamay.
The petitioners also called for public consultation since the project did not secure an approval from the Sangguniang Panlungsod, said Mahipus.
The Davao City council has blocked the port’s auction under the public-private partnership program last December.
“They claimed that they have done their own public consultation, but it should have been done altogether or side by side with the Local Sanggunian,” Mahipus said, citing the provisions of the Local Government Code of 1991, sections 26 and 27.
Mahipus added the City Council called the attention of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for failing to coordinate with the local government.
For his part, Kadamay’s Badal said that they are opposing the modernization project, as this would dislocate a thousand families in the area.
“There was no public consultation among Sasa residents,” Badal claimed.
Meanwhile, Engr. Lozada said the project stands to violate the environmental code.
He said that if the Sasa port will be expanded, the water area between Sasa and Samal will be thinner and may cause ship collision.
“If there will be a possible collision of boats there, there will be oil spill that would affect 90% of Samal island resort owners which are facing the Davao City, ”Lozada explained.
Roque added that they filed the petition to stop the bidding by invoking the Writ of Kalikasan for the failure of the national government to seek the consent of the people and for not complying with the environmental laws.
“This project will greatly increase threat to the environment and under the environmental code it is required that the local government unit must first and foremost approve the project,” Roque said.(davaotoday.com)
