Bill to improve CPA passes second reading

CEBU, Philippines - The House of Representatives has approved on second reading a measure expanding the powers of the Cebu Port Authority (CPA).

Representatives Rachel Marguerite “Cutie” Del Mar of the 1st District, Cebu City and Deputy House Speaker Pablo Garcia of the 2nd District, Cebu authored House Bill 5666 that seeks to amend Republic Act 7621, otherwise known as the Charter of the Cebu Port Authority.

Del Mar said the bill’s plenary approval was endorsed by the House Committee on Government Enterprises and Privatization chaired by Rep. Erico Basilio Fabian (2nd District, Zamboanga City).

The measure aims to improve local government representation in the CPA board and it expands the power of the authority to include police powers, pilotage and the conduct of pilots. It will strengthen the operational, functional and administrative capabilities of the authority.

“With these amendments, it is believed that the Cebu Port Authority will be more than able to keep pace with the demand of local and foreign trade and commerce and fully attain the purposes and objectives for which it was created,” Del Mar said.

Garcia said RA 7621 which created the Cebu Port Authority to manage, administer, operate, maintain, improve, develop, coordinate and govern the activities of all the ports in all seas, lakes, rivers and all other navigable inland waterways within the Province of Cebu, including the City of Cebu and other highly urbanized cities, failed to provide for representation from the local government units in whose territorial jurisdiction the port facilities governed by the Authority are located.

The bill proposes to increase the members of the governing body from five to seven to include the governor of the province and mayor of the city where majority of the port facilities are located.

“There is a need to correct the unbalanced situation by ensuring local government representation in the Authority,” Garcia said.

The bill, if enacted into law, will further improve coordination between local government units and the Authority in terms of, among others, ensuring public health, safety and convenience, infrastructure development and support, legislative support for policies and programs and revenue-generating activities for their mutual benefit.

The measure seeks to amend Sections 7 (Power), 8 (Governing Body), 9 (Powers and Functions of the Commission), 10 (Term of Office), 12 (General Manager), 15 (Supplies and Services Other than Personal) and 19 (Bond Limits) of RA 7621.

New sections are added on the mode of granting contracts and permits, with a proposal that only the Supreme Court may issue a TRO, writ of preliminary injunction or any injunctive writ to ensure that implementation of projects are not unduly disrupted.

The co-authors of the bill are Reps. Eduardo Gullas (1st District, Cebu), Pablo John Garcia (3rd District, Cebu), Augusto Boboy Sijuco (2nd District, Iloilo), Erico Basilio Fabian (2nd District, Zamboanga City), Roger Mercado (Lone District, Southern Leyte) and Mel Senen Sarmiento (1st District, Western Samar). (FREEMAN)