CPA: Construction is not illegal

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has challenged the officials of the Cebu Port Authority (CPA) after its chief legal officer claimed that they can build whatever projects they want inside the port zone without the need to secure permits from the Office of the Building Officials (OBO).

CPA legal affairs department manager Yusop J. Uckung said “since time immemorial, infrastructure projects of this Authority implemented within the ports and properties under its territorial jurisdiction did not require any building permit from OBO.”

Uckung had sent a letter to Cebu City Engineer Kenneth Carmelita Enriquez and informed her that even if they do not have construction permit for their ongoing fencing project on the CPA property along the old Compania Maritima building, the project is not illegal.

“This is because the ports and other related properties of the Authority are within the control and administration of the Authority and approval of all permits for the construction of any infrastructure or related/similar project is vested with the Authority not with the Office of the Building Officials or local government unit,” the CPA legal chief said.

Rama said “Maayo pa og mang-resign na sila diha kon mao kana ang ilang baruganan. Kon nahimo na nila kaniadto nga dili molukat og permit, karon dili na kay Rama na ang mayor.”

It was Rama who instructed Enriquez, the concurrent head of the Office of the Building Officials (OBO), to stop the CPA’s project until its officials can secure construction permit from City Hall.

The mayor said if the CPA officials want to secure their property by constructing a fence around it, but he questioned the inclusion of the areas that used to be part of Quezon Boulevard.

Quezon Boulevard is the road that starts from corner F. Escaño Street at the back of Carbon Market passing the back portion of the old Compania Maritima, then to the old Bureau of Customs building up to the Pilot House in Pier 1.

With the construction of the subway tunnel from the South Coastal Road that links to McArthur Boulevard in Barangay San Roque, the wharf near the Compania Maritima building has been affected because the area was reclaimed with the use of national funds.

Aside from the portion of Quezon Boulevard from corner F. Escaño Street at the back of Carbon Market Unit 1, 2 and 3, other portions of the road is no longer being used for vehicles and Rama want it to be used for vehicles parking.

But CPA officials had already dug up holes in that area intended for posts of the fence, including the used to be Quezon Boulevard.

Rama earlier asked the CPA officials to allow the city to use the old Compania Maritima building as maritime museum, but the CPA denied the mayor’s request because they also have plans on the old building.

The port officials had already deployed security guards within the area that prohibits vehicle owners to park their vehicles near the Senior Citizens Park.

Rama said because the parking spaces infront of City Hall is not enough for those people transacting business with the city, he want that the wide space within the vicinity of the old Compania Maritima building to be used for vehicles’ parking.