Estrada urged to firm up scheme on ports dev't

President Estrada should stand firm against ploys to delay the modernization of the North Harbor as the absence of other viable development proposals endanger economic growth and safety at sea, a multi-sectoral consortium urged over the weekend.

This even as waterfront labor unions accused some government officials of being "anti-poor" in blocking improvements for the use of 3.8-million passengers serviced annually by the country's largest domestic port.

Reports from Malacañang said most members of the Cabinet-level Economic Coordinating Council (ECC) had approved of the consortium's build-operate-transfer (BOT) proposal submitted last Dec. 10. It is scheduled for approval next week.

In a letter to the President, the consortium of port operators, shipping lines and dock workers challenged critics "to put their money where their mouth is," and submit a better program for the dilapilated facility

"Otherwise," they stressed, "officials should respect Mr. Estrada's desire to upgrade sea transport infrastructure, given its critical role in internal trade and domestic industry."

The letter was signed by representative sof the National Union of Portworkers of the Philippines (NUPP), William Gothong & Aboitiz, Inc., Sulpicio Lines, Inc., Negros Navigation C., Inc., Lorenzo Shipping Corp., Asian Terminals Inc. (ATI), International Container Terminal Services Inc., and the Domestic Shipowners Association.

North Harbor is the leading domestic port, handling 7,000 shipcalls, 3.8 million passengers and 17 million tons of cargo annually. Eighty percent of passengers come from the lower-income brackets.

Five national administrations had pushed for, but failed to implement, the port's modernization because of strong labor and squatter resistance.

"Now that we have succeeded in getting these sectors to cooperate, by providiing them their proper due of the fruits of enterprise, one or two arm-chair experts are throwing obstacles in the path of development," lamented the consortium.

The consortium has spent P60 million in feasibility studies and other preparatory work. Its BOT proposal pledges infusion of at least $150 million -- all from private funds, sparing government additional financial burden.