By Moneth G. Deposa
Variety News Staff

THE Commonwealth Ports Authority’s board of directors yesterday accepted the resignation of executive director Clyde K. Norita whose management of the agency, according to board chairman Rex I. Palacios, “is not working any more.”
It was board member Bobbie Yamada who moved to accept the resignation, which board member Antonio Camacho seconded.
Board member Melchor Mendiola then thanked Norita for his service to the agency and for “meeting the demands of the board.”
Norita resigned on Wednesday citing the board’s “micromanagement” of CPA, which included meddling in the agency’s day-to-day operations.
Palacios said yesterday the board has lost confidence in Norita.
“The confidence of the board is eroding and when you lose that confidence (the relationship) will not work any more. Confidence is very important here,” Palacios said, adding that it is obvious why the board “easily” accepted Norita’s resignation.
Palacios said “micromanagement” works both ways.
“We don’t want management making policies and interfering in our operations,” he said. “However, when there are indications that in carrying out operations there are certain things that were not done right, it is our obligation to go in there and direct it because when CPA gets sued, we cannot just say we delegated it to the executive director and the board has no liability.”
Norita’s resignation is effective May 4.
“It’s sad,” Palacios said. “This is one day in my life when I don’t want to be the chairman of this body — I am seeing the termination of a friend. There are several reasons and it’s not because of one specific instance or factor.”
Palacios said he has no “personal friction” with Norita, whose hiring, he added, he supported.
A former lawmaker and deputy commissioner of public safety, Norita was recommended by Gov. Benigno R. Fitial.
Palacios said he met with Fitial on Wednesday night to personally inform him about Norita’s resignation.
Variety was told that the governor also lost confidence in Norita upon learning about some “contracts” awarded to a certain company.
This information was not confirmed as of press time.