A large barge which suddenly docked at the seldom-used Alburquerque port and alarmed the town’s local government unit (LGU) was caught unloading cargo at the facility without authorization from the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).
According to Alburquerque Mayor Ritchie Buates, they found out that the vessel, MV Poseidon 30 from Minglanilla, Cebu was delivering prefabricated construction materials for a subdivision in Baclayon without extending a notice of arrival and berthing application to the PPA.
The ship docked at the port at 12 p.m. on Thursday last week but the LGU noticed the unloading at 8 p.m. on the same day.
“Na-alarma ko nganong naay kalit na dako kaayong barge diha. Gadali-dali pud ko kay basin ba kahag kontrabando ng gipangkarga ana,” said Buates. “Ang PPA amoang gi-conact…gi-confirm sa PPA na jamo silay dokumento.”
Buates then directed the town’s police to block the unloading and delivery of the materials as per request of the PPA.
However, an official from the PPA who spoke on condition of anonymity due to lack of clearance to speak on the matter said that the shipping firm’s management paid a fine of P17,000 allowing them to continue unloading their cargo on Friday.
The PPA official said that there was a “communication gap” between the shipping company and the shipment consignee.
“Gasalig si shipping na si consignee maoy hing submit sa notice of arrival diri sa amoang office,” the source said.
The shipping firm was made to pay for the fine since it was the one which committed the actual violation, not the consignee.
Meanwhile, Buates said that shipping companies and operators of other seacrafts who will use the port should notify the LGU so as not to cause alarm.
He also said that an ordinance is in place mandating a fee from the operators for using municipal roads which connect to the seaport.
“Masiki dili kami ang tag-iya sa pantalan pero kining mga basura na ipangbilin nila, mao na among experience sauna, mao ng gusto mi og naay mo dunggo, mo-courtesy namo. Usa pa ng segurado nato kay basig armado ng ubang nanakay,” Buates said. (A. Doydora)