Trouble started when the deputy mayor of Manila, Isko Moreno, alleged that reclamation work was carried out “in secret” and that no permission had been forthcoming from municipal authorities. ICTSI has pointed out that permission for the work was granted by the Philippine Ports Authority, which in some cases had involved liaising with the city authorities.
ICTSI issued a statement explaining that the land on which the new berth is being constructed is indeed public domain, located within the Port Zone, over which the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has jurisdiction – making them “in effect PPA property”, and adding that ICTSI will have no residual claims of ownership in the land and improvements.
However, Mayor Alfredo Lim says that the misunderstanding came about because of overlapping claims of jurisdiction, and added, “There is no need to harass and browbeat private parties caught in between. We refer to ICTSI, the contractor of PPA; and Hanjin, ICTSI’s contractor.”
A city committee did seem to be looking into the possibility of repossessing the 12-hectare lot at Isla Puting Bato in Tondo, with the idea that it may be used as a housing site – although it was designed as a port area next to the heavy industry of ICTSI’s Manila International Container Port and may not, actually, be that suitable for domestic use.
However, Mayor Lim said: “We further acknowledge that ICTSI has been a good citizen of Manila”, and is calling the company in for talks to resolve the situation.