Jadewell seeks audience with Jonas

CEBU, Philippines - For the newly installed manager of the Jadewell Pay Parking System Corporation, a meeting with City Mayor Jonas Cortes would give him an opportunity to explain vis-à-vis the alleged violations his firm had committed and hopes his clarification would put off the city's plan to rescind the memorandum of agreement it has entered with the firm.

The city legal office has recommended to the Office of the Mayor that the contract be rescinded alleging that the towing firm had violated some provisions stipulated in the MOA.

Aside from the violations, the recommendation to rescind was also based on the observations made by the Commission on Audit.

But Jadewell manager Engr. Tomas Villanueva yesterday said that his firm just wants to have a meeting with the mayor so as to give it a chance to air its side on the issue.

Villanueva said his firm can refute the observations made by COA and allegations of violations of some MOA provisions.

He said it is not true the firm failed to post a performance bond of P500,000.

He said Mr. Rogelio Tan, the CEO of Jadewell, has stated that after the MOA was signed in 2003, the firm immediately posted the bond, and the firm can even produce a copy of it if the city so demands.

Regarding the alleged delay in the remittances of the city's 10 percent share from the gross receipts of the total collections on the pay parking fees, he said he cannot explain how it was remitted before he assumed office, but when he became manager last May, everything was well-documented.

He said if there was failure on the firm's part to install pay parking meters, it was because the city failed to determine the areas where it can install the meters which cost P240,000 to purchase.

Villanueva said it is necessary for the city to determine the areas because these meters would remain in place for at least 10 years since the cables have to be installed underground.

He denied reports that the firm failed to sell through public auction all the vehicles that were impounded beyond six months.

He said a public auction was conducted last June 11 and it was published for two consecutive weeks.

On the accusation that some parking attendants are abusive, he said it is a natural reaction by some violators.

If there is a clear violation, then there's the willful intent to discipline the erring driver as well as to enforce a striking balance between business, motorist, and pedestrian from which the city can also generate income through pay parking and traffic discipline in accordance with the implementation of the no-nonsense city ordinance.

Villanueva said he has no problem with the city reviewing its contract as long as this is made on factual and legal basis and given due process.

He said he hopes his firm would be given the chance to meet the mayor because it is willing to patch things up.

During yesterday morning's press conference, lawyer Rod Francis Bagaslao of the City Traffic Management Board, said that once the contract with Jadewell is rescinded, the city will invite operators to adopt a proposal that would seek to operate a pay parking and towing operation in the city.

Asst. legal officer lawyer Jamaal Calipayan also said the notice to rescind Jadewell's contract with the city has not been delivered to the towing firm yet as Cortes is to review the recommendation.

Once the Mayor agrees to the recommendation, the rescission will take effect 60 days after the notice is served to Jadewell. - THE FREEMAN