Cebuano to take helm at MARINA?

CEBU, Philippines - Is a Cebuano taking the helm at MARINA?

Cebu Ports Authority General Manager Angelo Verdan was reportedly appointed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as the new administrator of the Maritime Industry Authority replacing Maria Elena Bautista, who will take her oath on Monday as the new chief of the Presidential Management Staff.

The president is expected to announce Verdan’s appointment today during her visit here.

A source from among the shipping operators in Cebu, who earlier lobbied for Bautista’s relief, said that Verdan will assume as the new MARINA administrator while Deputy General Manager Dennis Villamor will take his post in the CPA in an acting capacity.

Verdan refused to confirm the report saying he does not want to preempt the president.

He, however, said he was “strongly recommended” for the position by Executive Secretary Leandro Mendoza.

Bautista said it is definite that someone will replace her in MARINA as she is mandated to vacate the position on Monday as soon as she take her oath as new PMS chief. She however said she does not know who her replacement is.

She said it could be that one of the deputy administrators will act as caretaker or somebody will be appointed by the president.

Bautista was appointed to a Cabinet portfolio following a Supreme Court ruling that requires all government appointed officials running for an elective position this coming election to resign.

She is replacing Hermogenes Esperon, who is a candidate for congressman in Pangasinan.

Bautista’s promotion to the Cabinet pleased the ship owners in the Visayas who were wishing for her ouster as MARINA administrator.

Members of the Philippine Shipping Association earlier complained against Bautista and sought for her relief because of her strict memorandum circulars which shipping operators described as unreasonable and untenable.

The Cebu-based Visayan Association of Ferryboat and Coastwise Service Operators which is a member of the association was the most vocal against Bautista.

The shipowners and operators even threatened to hold a “shipping holiday” supposedly last March 1 to pressure the government to remove Bautista as Marina administrator.

The supposed strike however was called off following President Arroyo’s intercession.

Arroyo ordered the suspension of the implementation of the memorandum circulars.

Among the questioned circulars is Circular 2009-18, which provides for a mandatory suspension of the entire fleet of a shipping company in the event that one of its vessels meets an accident.

According to the group, this will result in millions of pesos in losses for a shipping company. —with Johanna Natavio/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)