Singson seeks Congress probe on Poro Point

Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson has reiterated his position that a full-blown congressional investigation should be conducted to determine the validity of the contract transferring the administration of the Poro Point seaport from the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) to the Poro Point Industrial Corp. (PPIC).

Reacting to a published report that it was his own relative, Rogelio Singson, the BCDA chairman during the Estrada administration, who entered into the contract, the governor said the former was under strong pressure from Malacañang to sign it in favor of the Manny Tan-Jaime Dichaves group, known personal friends of the ousted president.

Gov. Singson said he is supporting calls for an investigation into the "anomalous arrangement," saying that Poro Point "should benefit the entire region, not just a handful of politically influential businessmen."

He said he believes that the Poro Point contract was null and void from the start because "there was no public bidding and the terms and conditions were grossly disadvantageous to the government."

The contract provided that Tan, the private investor, would invest P840 million in the development of the seaport.

"But no development has been undertaken," Singson said.

Furthermore, he said the PPIC was committed to pay an annual revenue of P50 million to the BCDA which was much lower than the actual earnings of the port at the time the contract was signed.

To stress his point, Singson said, "If the contract is proven to be legal by competent authorities, and that there was a public bidding held, I am willing to resign as governor. But if it is proven to be illegal and disadvantageous to the government, I challenge all those officials involved, from the executive to the judiciary, to resign in like manner."

Singson said he is apprehensive that if the government gives in to the media blitz and return the seaport to the PPIC, this will send the wrong signal to foreign and local investors "that we have institutionalized graft and corruption in our country."

"This will surely deal the death blow to our economic development efforts," he said.

The Poro Point controversy erupted recently after the PPIC protested the move of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) to take over operations at the seaport.

The PPA was acting on the directive of Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources issued a cease-and-desist order to the PPIC. — With Jose Rodel Clapano