Ship repair company asks Capitol to suspend cease and desist order

CEBU, Philippines - The management of Michael Slipways Inc., a ship repair facility in Liloan, Cebu, has asked the suspension of the implementation of cease and desist earlier order issued by the Capitol.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia in a closed door meeting discussed the matter with Liloan Mayor Vincent Franco Frasco and representatives of the company at the Capitol yesterday.

Existing contract with a client that needs to be done prompted the company to request for the suspension of the cease and desist order for a month, said Garcia to reporters after the meeting.

“I decided that this was time, really, that we should all sit down with the local government of Liloan, Michael Slipway and their lawyers because this issue of the LGU versus and vis-a-vis has long festered for over 15 years,” Garcia said.

Garcia said she would really wish to come to a compromise together with the Environmental Management Bureau tasked to monitor full compliance of existing environmental laws.

EMB-7 Regional Director Fernando Quililan was also present during the meeting yesterday.

Quililan said that for as long as there are violations, they will also definitely issue their own CDO.

“This compromise is based on the fact that existing environmental laws are complied with,” Garcia said.

 The first move yesterday was to request Michael Slipway to withdraw its motion to cite Frasco in indirect contempt for not issuing a mayor’s permit.

Garcia said that even if Frasco issues mayor’s permit, the slipway doesn’t conform with the zoning ordinance, unless they can secure variance.

Frasco earlier said he cannot issue a permit because it is operating in Suba River right at the mouth of Silot Bay, an area declared as tourism zone as classified by their revised Zoning Ordinance.

Once the company can show to Garcia a signed copy of the withdrawn petition, she will then suspend the implementation of the CDO for one month so that contractual obligations are complied with.

Garcia also told the company representatives to sit down with the local officials of Liloan.

“I think this is an avenue through which we can finally settle a long festering issue that has plagued both parties for too long,” she said.

Garcia is set to call again a meeting after one month, when both parties can already have a common ground to settle the issue.

The LGU of Liloan earlier asked the Capitol to assist them in prosecuting the ship repair facility for operating in a tourism zone without permit and clearances. They alleged that the facility is operating without a business permit and in violation of environmental laws, prompting Garcia to issue the CDO.  (FREEMAN)