CPA denies ‘illegal’ collection of parking fees

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu Port Authority has denied collecting parking fees along M.L. Quezon road, near the Compania Maritima.

CPA’s denial was in response to the statement of Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama to the effect that CPA is illegally collecting parking fees there. Rama even ordered the arrest of CPA personnel supposedly collecting the said fee.

CPA said it is only collecting parking fees at their designated parking area at P20.00 per hour.

As of 5 p.m. yesterday, CPA said they received no report of any arrest.

Rama has described the collection of parking fees along M.L. Quezon road by CPA as stupid.

The M.L. Quezon Road is near the Compania Maritima, whose ownership is the subject of a court battle between the CPA and the Cebu City government.

It can be recalled that on January 18, 2023, CPA deployed 24 security personnel to the Compania Maritima to regain CPA’s possession of the disputed premises.

This developed after the posting of enlarged copies of the Writ of Preliminary Injunction for public information.

Prior to this, the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 10 in Cebu City granted the petition for a writ of Preliminary Injunction filed by CPA in a 15-page order penned by Judge Soliver Peras issued on December 23, 2022.

With the ongoing legal dispute between the city government and CPA as to the ownership of Compania Maritima, the joint venture agreement between the city government and certain private entities pertaining to the Carbon Market redevelopment project has been stalled. — JMD (FREEMAN)