ROTA Terminal and Transfer Co. Inc. has fixed its crane, which is now operational, Commonwealth Ports Authority Executive Director Christopher Tenorio said.
Last month, Tenorio sent RTT General Manager Viola Hocog-Atalig a demand letter stating that RTT had 30 days to purchase a crane, repair parts or similar equipment for stevedoring services. He said if the equipment was not obtained and the stevedoring services had not resumed by Feb. 12, CPA might send RTT a notice of default.
In an interview on Tuesday, Tenorio said Hocog-Atalig responded to him two weeks after he sent his demand letter. She informed him that RTT has repaired its crane, and the stevedoring services at Rota West Harbor have resumed, Tenorio added.
He said he immediately asked Rota Ports Manager Charlene Manglona to check RTT’s equipment. He said Manglona told him that RTT’s crane was working again.
During the CPA Board’s Seaport Facilities Committee meeting Tuesday, its chairman, former Sen. Pete P. Reyes, asked CPA Board Chairwoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds to invite Rota Sen. Paul Manglona to their next meeting so they could have “a healthy discussion” on issues pertaining to seaport operations.
He said CPA and the Rota Legislative Delegation can cooperate, “and we will do that, we will offer that. We just need to have an understanding of our limitations.”
Manglona has been bringing the Rota crane issue to the attention of CPA over for the past two years.
King-Hinds, for her part, asked Tenorio if RTT is up to date with its lease payments and other obligations to CPA.
Tenorio allowed CPA Comptroller Skye Lynn Hofschneider to answer the question.
Hofschneider told the board that RTT still owes CPA a total $3,200 for utilities, use of warehouse and lease. She said RTT “has been behind since May 2022,” but is “making payments slowly.”
Christopher Tenorio
