CPA emergency expiring today, extension expected

The state of emergency declaration that is keeping the Commonwealth Ports Authority under the governor’s direct control will expire today. An extension is expected.

Press secretary Charles P. Reyes Jr. said yesterday that the administration will likely extend the state of emergency, as there is no board of directors to run the ports authority.

At the governor’s request, the CPA board members resigned almost three weeks ago. The administration has not submitted any new nominations for the Senate to confirm.

“Until such time we appoint people to the board, CPA will have to remain under the state of emergency,” said Reyes. “CPA cannot function without a board. Even its executive director, Lee Cabrera, is retiring soon. It would be hard to bring back CPA’s autonomous status at this point.”

On May 13, 2008, the governor issued an executive order placing the financially trouble ports authority under his direct control for 120 days. He also signed a separate order declaring CPA under a state of emergency for an initial 30 days.

The Legislature has overturned the reorganization order, but emergency declaration has kept CPA under the Governor’s Office.

Gov. Benigno R. Fitial, however, has said CPA will revert back to board control as soon as its financial situation has been stabilized. “I…[state] without reservation that it is my intention to take all measures to terminate the emergency declaration as soon as possible and preferably within 30 days,” he said.

CPA was on the verge of a technical default on its airport revenue bond when the governor took over. CPA’s bond consultants had recommended measures to prevent the default, but the board of directors failed to implement them.