MANILA, Philippines - Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile warned the City Council of Manila against interfering with the reclamation project of the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) in Tondo, Manila since it has already been approved by the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).
Enrile said under the law, reclaimed land is the property of the state and that only the state can dispose of it.
“The area to be reclaimed unquestionably will remain as property of the Republic,” he said. “Furthermore, the land to be reclaimed is not being sought to be sold nor alienated.”
Enrile said the city government of Manila has no valid reason to require ICTSI to secure a mayor’s permit.
“Such requirements, including the marine water usage tax, if imposed, will illegally impinge upon the exclusive jurisdiction granted by law to the PPA and will clearly exceed the powers granted to local governments,” he said.
“These moves betray the utter ignorance of their proponents of the governing laws and jurisprudence on the matter.”
Enrile said that the power of the local government to regulate areas under its jurisdiction cannot be exercised in violation of national laws.
Presidential Decree 505, as amended by P.D. 857, grants the PPA the power of control, supervision and regulation over all ports in the country, he added.
The project is supposed to pave the way for the development of an additional berth for vessels, Enrile said.