“Indefinite postponement of work” – Hanjin

May 6, 2008

nimfa albania phividec

Malacañang may have issued statements that Hanjin Heavy Industries Construction Corp. (HHICC) is here to stay but as to when the Korean firm will be back is still something the future can only tell.

HHICC Memorandum No. 0038-08 issued by project site managing director Myong Goo Kwon last May 28, 2008 does not give much hint as to when Hanjin will be back.

“Be advised indefinite postponement of work,” reads the memo posted at the Hanjin’s working place at their administrative building at Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental.

The order was addressed to all the department heads, supervisors and other rank and file workers who were told that effective last May 28, 2008 they are no longer allowed to enter the Hanjin premises except for those who are duly authorized to do so.

“Please wait for further notice,” Kwon’s memo further reads.

The memo stemmed from how Tagoloan mayor Paulino Emano has ordered Hanjin to stop all construction works until it has complied with governmental requirements which includes the issuance of an environmental clearance certificate (ECC).

But despite Emano’s lifting of his order, Hanjin only gave Malacañang a statement that it is “inclined to stay.”

Sources close to Hanjin said the Korean firm cannot as yet return to its former full blast work status considering that Municipality of Villanueva under Mayor Juliet Uy, where the 400 hectares of shipyard site is located, has yet to also suspend its cease and desist order against Hanjin.

Also, Kwon’s letter to Phividec Industrial Authority (PIA) administrator Nimfa Albania contained how “numerous atrocities” were committed against Hanjin and enumerated as well three major reasons as to why Hanjin has now withdrawn.

They include: (1) Negative undue publicity both in Subic and in Mindanao; (2) Local disturbances in the operation of the project; and (3) Outstanding right-of-way clearance and unfavorable actions therefrom.

Albania confirmed to reporters in a press conference yesterday that she indeed received the letter last April 25, 2008 and that they are still working out the details in addressing Hanjin’s complaints.

She said, since April 28, 2008, only a “skeletal force” remains at the former Hanjin area which was bustling with numerous activities just last month.

“The letter said there is going to be a withdrawing of its project team while certain things are being addressed,” she said.

She added that this include the ECC as well as the environmental impact study, the environmental impact assessment and the certificate of non-coverage among others.

When asked on what these “local disturbances” that Hanjin referred to, Albania answered that these include the difficulties they face in actually relocating residents at the affected site areas where Hanjin is to build its shipyard, work stoppage orders, lack of ECC and other permits.

“We are exerting all our efforts to address these matters…but they will be back when these disturbances are addressed,” she said.

Villanueva municipal councilor Manny Silfavan in a radio interview earlier disclosed that their council and Mayor Uy unanimously approved a resolution ordering Hanjin to stop all works at three Villanueva barangays where its shipyard is supposed to stand.

He enumerated how Hanjin has yet to acquire an ECC and that their constituents at barangays Tambobong, Balacanas and San Martin need to be properly relocated first in a site which is closer to the national highway and already replete with all the basic amenities such as a proper road, power and water supplies, etc.

Last April 1, 2008, stories broke out of how 46 year old Dolores Pontilla, a resident of Barangay Tambobong, allegedly committed suicide as her property was suddenly bulldozed to make way for Hanjin’s shipyard. (Lizanilla J. Amarga)

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Written by admin · Filed Under Misamis Oriental