By RIC V. OBEDENCIO 

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) broke its silence over the alleged “permit-less” dumping of road materials at the seaside which PPA has called “a part of the on-going improvement of access road of city seaport.”  “The said plan of widening and raising the access road of the city port is part of the original plan,” PPA information officer Epelito Arao-arao said in an interview.  The plan already has an Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) to widen the road and part of the P500,000 but for rehabilitation and repair of the city port and other ports in Bohol that were devastated by the earthquake last year, he said. In fact, he said, PPA has already consulted this with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

 The statement of the state-run agency was sought by the environmental sector to respond to the clamor that dumping of road waste materials into the seawater was said to be improper.  Ms. Pat Ruiz, former city planning officer, said in her text message . “Went to PPA head office May 15 to inquire about the port rehabilitation plan that includes the road repair. I reported the dumping of the waste road materials to the seaside and inquire if that is part of the repair component. It is not part of the road repair. The (PPA) Vice-General manager Tomas Carlos said so.  Ruiz continued: “So he called project engineer Richard Ilupre to stop the dumping of waste road materials. I visited Engr. Ilupre past Wednesday and inquire their next steps. He has approached DENR to get the filling materials and ask me if I have contacts with other government agencies to avail of said materials.”

 Arao-arao said that the dumping is intended to make use of the road waste materials to help widen the access road.  Part of the improvement is the construction of a “temporary” office building office since the main PPA building at the port was destroyed by the tremor last year.  Also, the new passenger terminal edifice which was badly damaged by the earthquake and the “welcome (tourist) building” will also be undertaken soon, he said.  Part of the access road improvement is the construction of the “covered walkway” for passengers from the entrance of the road leading to the berthing area for the comfort of the passengers.  Arao-arao bared that PPA turned down applications for foreshore lease of the restaurants and other business within the access road to give way for the said development at the port.