CPA denies LTFRB's lot request

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Port Commission (CPC) has denied the request of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) 7 for a 3,000- square meter land area for the construction of its regional office building.In a letter dated May 4, 2012, CPC vice chairman and Cebu Port Authority (CPA) general manager, Engr. Dennis Villamor, informed LTFRB-7 Regional Director Ahmed Cuizon about the denial.

“We regret to inform you that the Cebu Port Commission, during its 29th Regular Board Meeting on 05 May 2012, denied your request for 3,000 square meters of land for the construction LTFRB Region VII Office,” said Villamor.

The Freeman failed to reach Cuizon for comment but his staff, Joy Tumulak, said the regional director was dismayed by the denial of his request.

The request for the kind help of CPA in providing the said lot was discussed with Transportation and Communications Secretary Mar Roxas during the Regional Management Council meeting last January 31, 2012.

In a letter dated February 1, 2012 addressed to Villamor, Cuizon reiterated his desire for CPA’s assistance on the matter.

“Ours is one of only three LTFRB regional offices without buildings of their own,” Cuizon said.

The funding request of P50 million for building construction has already been approved by the DOTC, however, no budget was granted for the lot acquisition prompting Cuizon to ask for a lot donation.

The LTFRB in Central Visayas bested all other 12 regional offices outside Metro Manila in actual revenue collections last year when it was able to collect a total of P47 million from all sources of income such as filing fees, supervision fees; fines and penalties and miscellaneous fees.

The actual collection is P5.7 million higher that its target income for 2011 in the amount of P41.3 million, which is also the highest among the five regional offices outside Metro Manila that exceeded their annual revenue targets.

Cuizon earlier thanked CPA’s capacity to help them which was taken up during the RMC meeting presided by Roxas.

The bidding for the construction of the said building was supposedly scheduled within the first quarter of 2012.

Cuizon said that the port area or its immediate environs would be a most suitable location for the proposed building considering its proximity to a significant number of their clients from neighboring provinces who often travel to Cebu by fastcraft or ferries.

The LTFRB-7 is currently renting a space at J. King Building at the North Reclamation Area in Cebu City. – (FREEMAN)