The Philippine Ports Authority has deferred the turnover of the Manila North Harbor to Manila North Harbor Port Inc. indefinitely over labor issues and the fees it must pay, an official was quoted as saying by Manila Standard Sunday. The agency was supposed to turn over the operation of the North Harbor to Manila North Monday, but it told the company Friday that it must wait until all questions were resolved, Ports Authority general manager Oscar Sevilla said. “[Manila North] has no choice. [The Ports Authority] has to defer the takeover until they comply with the requirements,” Sevilla said. He said labor groups were resisting the takeover until Manila North committed itself to hiring them. “There will be bloodshed,” Sevilla said. Manila North is a joint venture between Harbour Center and Metro Pacific Investments Corp. It was awarded the contract to modernize and operate the North Harbor for 25 years on Oct. 8, 2009 at a cost of P14.5 billion. In return, it committed to pay the Ports Authority P6.8 billion in fixed fees during the period. But Sevilla said Manila North was yet to negotiate with the labor groups in the port despite the Port Authority's order that it talk to them and assure them that it would be hiring them. “[The consortium] has failed to show proof of full and complete compliance” based on the report submitted by the manager of the Manila North Harbor and [the Port Authority's] assistant general for operations,” Sevilla said. He said Manila North must invest in equipment before it could take over the port. It must also declare how much it would charge in concession fees. “Our agreement is that [Manila North] will only charge whatever the [Ports Authority] is charging service providers if ever they will be subcontracted by [Manila North],” Sevilla said.
