CPA to City: Wait for court decision on Maritima lot

Cebu City Hall defies CPA order to transfer V-hire terminal

THE Cebu City Government will not heed the order of the Cebu Port Authority (CPA) to vacate the lot across Compania Maritima and transfer the vans-for-hire (v-hire) to the One Citilink Terminal on N. Bacalso Ave.

In a letter addressed to CPA General Manager Edmund Tan, City Legal Officer Jerone Castillo said the City cannot give in to their demand because the case that will determine who owns the lot where Compania Maritima stands is still pending in court.

“We have to give due respect to the said court proceedings especially since the court has never issued any temporary restraining order or any injunctive writ against the Cebu City Government in relation to the said case,” Castillo said.

Although the City has yet to receive the letter from CPA, Castillo said he wrote Tan regarding the matter since his statement already came out in the newspaper.

In an earlier Sun.Star Cebu report, CPA asked the City why the v-hire are still in the temporary terminal beside Compania Maritima when the court already ordered the reopening of Citilink.

The CPA gave the City five days to transfer the v-hire, and said they will prohibit “further unlawful encroachment of the area.”

In his reply, Castillo emphasized that the Citilink’s memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the City to operate a terminal to cater to the passengers bound for southern towns already expired two years ago.

The terminal’s business permit is also expired and was valid until April 20, 2015.

The two points, Castillo said, have also been raised by Citilink in the complaint they filed against the City.

Castillo reiterated that the terminal’s operation beside Compania Maritima is only temporary.

Yesterday, several v-hire drivers said that personnel from CPA approached them and asked when they will leave the area.

Nelson Barinian said they did not receive any written notice from the CPA to vacate the lot.

“Giduol ug gipangutana mi nila kung kanus-a mi mamalhin pero among giingnan nga wala gyod mi kahibaw kay mag agad ra gyod mi sa Syudad (They asked us when we will transfer but we told them we have no idea, we’re just following orders from City Hall),” he said.

Until the City orders them to leave, the drivers said they will continue to park at the vacant lot beside Compania Maritima and load and unload passengers there.