Mayor  Rama to CPA: Leave Cebu City

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama wants the Cebu Port Authority (CPA) to relocate outside of the city and transfer to Consolacion.

Rama made the statement following CPA’s refusal to submit to the jurisdiction of the Office of Building Official (OBO) of Cebu City. CPA questioned the authority of the city government to require OBO permit for all its construction projects within the base port area,

According to CPA, it is “undoubtedly beyond the bounds of authority” granted to the OBO under Section 207 of Presidential Decree No. 1096 or the National Building Code of the Philippines to require them to secure permit for their port development projects.

Rama insisted that the CPA does not have any “ownership” and he wanted them out of the territorial jurisdiction of Cebu City.

“No, they don’t have that ownership. I want them out. They should go to Consolacion…CPA (and Cebu Port Authority) and CIP (Cebu International Port) and maybe we can rearrange the pier. I will work it out in Manila,” Rama told reporters.

The Cebu City Government also insisted that the charges the OBO filed against the CPA are not an issue of ownership but rather a violation against the National Building Code.  Cebu City Legal Office head Attorney Carlo Vincent Gimena said the argument of CPA, in response to the charges they filed, was different.

According to Gimena, under PD 1096 Section 301, COA does not have an exemption to get a permit from OBO before they could construct any structure inside the CPA vicinity considering that it is under the territorial jurisdiction of Cebu City.

“Doesn’t matter kung kinsa ang owner ana, the fact still remains na mag tucked gani ka og structure you should secure a building permit from the office of the building official sa Cebu City where the structures are located,” said Gimena.

The records of OBO show that the CPA did not secure any building permit for all its building projects.

The OBO, through the City Legal Office, filed criminal and administrative charges against the former and current general managers of CPA last Friday, March 15, 2024.

At least 18 counts of criminal charges were filed against the former general manager of CPA, Glenn Castillo, and current general manager Francisco Cañete Comendador III. The criminal charges include Violation of Section 3(e) of R.A. 3019, Usurpation of Authority under Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code, and Violation of Section 301 in relation to Section 213 of P.D. No. 1096, otherwise known as the National Building Code of the Philippines.

The administrative charges also include Grave Misconduct, Gross Neglect of Duty, and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service.

It was OBO chief Architect Florante Catalan who filed the complaint on behalf of the city government. —  (FREEMAN)