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Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista has designated port manager Manuel A. Boholano as OIC of the Philippine Ports Authority
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Boholano will hold the post until July 31 or until a permanent general manager has been appointed or designated, whichever comes first
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Shipowner Christopher Pastrana, who had already taken his oath as PPA general manager, has yet to report to the agency
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Pastrana’s appointment has been questioned of late, with critics citing many conflicts of interest
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Press Secretary Rose Beatrix Angeles said “it’s status quo as of the moment” at the PPA
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista has designated port manager Manuel A. Boholano as officer-in-charge (OIC) of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).
Boholano will hold the post until July 31 or until a permanent general manager has been appointed or designated, whichever comes first, according to Department of Transportation Special Order No. 2022-129, which took effect on July 1.
PPA in a statement said Boholano became a port manager in 2005 and is currently designated at the Port Management Office of Eastern Leyte/ Samar since 2020. He has been with PPA since 1988.
Boholano’s designation comes even after Christopher Pastrana was appointed by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr as the new PPA general manager. Pastrana had already taken his oath on June 30 but has not physically reported for work. He was also not present during Bautista’s surprise visit to the PPA head office on July 7.
Asked whether it’s true Pastrana’s appointment has been recalled, Press Secretary Rose Beatrix Angeles, in a Malacanang press briefing on July 8, said: “Well, there is no statement and no information on that one. So, it’s status quo as of the moment. Alright.”
Since the announcement of Pastrana’s appointment as PPA general manager, he has been confronted by accusations of conflict of interest.
Pastrana is chairman of domestic shipping operator Archipelago Philippine Ferries, which operates catarman-type roll-on/roll-off vessels.
According to reports, Pastrana’s Philharbor Ferries and Port Services (PFPSI) is part-owner of Bacolod Real Estate Development Corp., which runs a private-commercial port in Bacolod City.
There are also reports of PFPSI being the subject of an outstanding demand letter from the Department of Transportation to settle P132.1 million in unpaid monthly amortizations and accumulated interest for two vessels of the DOTr from 2013 to 2022.
Pastrana’s daughters, meanwhile, reportedly own Philippine Archipelago Ports and Terminal Services, while Pastrana’s brother-in-law, Rommel Ibuna is chairman of Prudential Customs Brokerage Services Inc., which operates several ports under PPA.
A PortCalls source said Pastrana is now working on divesting from his businesses.
