The questionable appointment of Christopher Pastrana as General Manager of the Philippine Ports Authority

The Republic of the Philippines is on to its next chapter as it welcomes its new President, Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos jr. Part of the transition of every new presidency comes with the appointment to several positions in the government, but even traditions must give way when very dangerous tendencies start rearing their ugly heads. And that is precisely what happened when incoming ES Vic Rodriguez announced the appointment of Christopher Pastrana as General Manager of the Philippine Ports Authority. 

The appointment reportedly caught the 2 other members of the screening committee, Naida Angping and Anton Lagdameo by surprise. More importantly, the appointment was announced at the same time as that of incoming DOTR Secretary Jimmy Bautista, even before the latter had even accepted. And that was critical, because since PPA is an agency attached to the DOTR, such shouldhave been vetted with him. 

Domestic Shipowner Pastrana founded the CAPP Group of Companies involved in the trading of bulk raw materials for the cement industry. In 2002, he ventured into tug and barge operations and in the same year, he started Philharbor Ferries and Port Services and APFC, which operates catarman-type roll-on/roll-off vessels. He has since expanded into ship management, repair, port operations and maritime training.

Pastrana is currently president of Philippine Inter-island Shipping Association, the umbrella organization of various shipping associations, and president of the Philippine RoRo Operators Association. He is also a director of Interferry, a shipping association representing the ferry industry worldwide.

These consideration should have legally disqualified Pastrana from being appointed to PPA, or to any other government agency that regulates his businesses. But it seems that ES Rodriguez failed to see this, even if Pastrana’s business partner is Dennis Trajano, Rodriguez’s bilas (their wives being sisters). Trajano, in fact, sits as Chairman of the board of both companies.