The Philippine Ports Authority Port Management Office (PPA-PMO) in Tagbilaran City explained to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) that they have not issued a permit to construct a jetty port in Barangay Tangnan, Panglao but an “approval for the application for beaching landing”.

Officials of the PPA-PMO were called by the SP to shed light on the controversial proposal of an Ormoc based contractor to construct a jetty port in Tabo-an Beach, Purok 5, Barangay Tangnan, Panglao.

The committee meeting stemmed from a letter complaint from Panglao Municipal Councilors Joseph Jasper Arcay and Rogelin Degoma, chair and member respectively of the Committee on Environment of the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) who wrote the SP expressing their vehement opposition to the proposed construction of a jetty port in Purok 5, Barangay Tangnan, Panglao.

The testimonies of the PPA officials, Arcay and Degoma were heard during  a joint committee meeting on March 27, 2015  of the Committee on Public Works, Highways and Related Infrastructure chaired by 3rd District Board Member Dionisio Balite and the Committee on Natural Resources and Environmental Protection chaired by 1st District Board Member Abeleon Damalerio.

Panglao Mayor Leonila Montero, Municipal Engineer Bunao, Engineer Jose Teleron of C. Harrison Power nor their representatives was a no show in the meeting.

Asked by Balite about the circumstances leading to the approval for “beaching landing” of vessels in Tangnan, Panglao, Arao-arao replied that there was an “expressed approval from our Port Manager” through  a noted approval to proceed with processing of the application that was eventually approved.

Architect Epelito Arao-arao ll, Engr. Richard Elopre and Julius Jumangit of the PPA-PMO  told the SP that C. Harrison Power Enterprise and Construction filed an application for “beaching landing” on February 11, 2015 and was given the green light 10 days later after an ocular inspection of the site.

Damalerio quipped that based on what he has seen in Tangnan coastline were mostly cliffs “so you cannot do this beaching landing on a cliff portion, kay how can you unload if you are in a cliff?”

Arao-arao admitted advising Teleron to consider an alternative site and method since Tagbilaran port is presently undergoing massive rehabilitation due to damages suffered during the 7.2 magnitude earthquake on October 13, 2013.

“So we approved the application in Tangnan, Panglao based on the present situation inside the port, it is very congested”, said Arao-arao.

NO HEAVY LOAD

Atty. Namocatcat of the Provincial Legal Office also asked the PPA for clarification about the allegations of Teleron that the port of Tagbilaran could not handle heavy cargoes and equipment.

The PPA explained that Tagbilaran port is capable of handling large ships and the harbor can accommodate 6.1 to 7 meters draft of a vessel with a depth of 120 meters as shown by the recent docking of the cruise ship Minerva.

According to the PPA, depending on the vessel and the manner cargoes are unloaded, the port can handle 30-50 tons equipment.

However when Teleron applied for beaching landing the discussion was about aggregates to be loaded into dump trucks from the vessels using backhoes and payloaders and no mention about heavy construction equipment.

TALL TALES
The proposed jetty port was packaged by C. Harrison Power Enterprise and Construction as an integral part of the construction of the P7.2 Billion of the New Bohol Airport in Panglao.

Even without a single document to prove his connections with the winning bidder and its sub contractor, Teleron boasted that C Harrison Power was tasked by Chiyoda Mitsubishi Joint Venture and Engineering Equipment Inc. to construct a jetty port for the unloading of equipment for the New Bohol Airport.

Teleron as early as June, 2014 announced to the Sangguniang Barangay of Tangnan that Chiyoda Mitsubishi was the winning bidder for the Bohol Airport when, according to sources, the winning bidder was known only on 2015.

Katsuyuki Yamada, general Manager of Chiyoda Corporation wrote to the Editor of the Bohol Chronicle, Bingo Dejaresco on March 13, 2015 disavowing any relationship with C. Harrison Power Enterprise and Construction and categorically stating that the company is not their subcontractor.

Provincial Administrator Alfonso Damalerio, head of the New Bohol Airport Local Project Management Team of the Provincial Government also issued a disclaimer on Teleron’s statements.

RUSH JOB
The controversial proposal which was presented to the Municipal and Barangay councils of Panglao kicked off a storm after the proponent could not show a single document to back off its claim that the project had the approval of the winning bidder and its sub contractor, the Japanese Airport Consultants and the funding agency JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency).

Arcay, during the committee meeting denounced the Panglao SB for railroading the session proceedings in favor of the approval of a resolution anointing C. Harrison Power to construct a jetty port in Tangnan, Panglao without any documents to prove the claims and identity of its representative.

Degoma, on her part told the committee about the vehement opposition of the residents of Tangnan over the port project and was visibly irked when no development plan was shown by Teleron.

The PPA permit took barangay residents by surprise after Teleron  informed the barangay that they secured a permit to unload heavy equipment and materials by “beaching landing” instead of a jetty port as agreed by the barangay officials.

Teleron told Tangnan residents that C. Harrison Power opted to secure a permit for “beaching landing” of their equipments and materials upon the advice of the PPA to avoid stringent environmental clearances from the DENR and other government agencies.

Teleron managed to secure a “notarized board resolution” from the barangay council as early as June 9, 2014 to construct a jetty port but the resolution was withdrawn by the barangay council on February, 2015 following allegations of irregularities in the preparation of the barangay resolution and its transmittal to the Sangguniang Bayan.

Damalerio concluded the meeting saying “any project that is not cognizant of proper procedure for its implementation will bring questions and no matter how good the project but if the people have the perception that there were shortcuts to appease interested capitalist. partners or investors, questions will be raised”. (CMV)