By Louella D.
Desiderio (The Philippine Star) | Updated January 14, 2013 - 12:00am
MANILA,
Philippines - State-run Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) is
studying actions it can take for the lifting of a temporary restraining order
(TRO) issued by the Supreme Court on the bidding of the Bonifacio South Pointe
property.
“Our legal
team is studying and working on how we can have the TRO lifted,” Nena Radoc,
BCDA vice president and chief finance officer said in a telephone interview
over the weekend.
“We are
looking at filing a motion for reconsideration,” she added.
She said the
TRO was issued by the Supreme Court last week.
SM Land Inc.
filed a petition for mandamus with the Supreme Court in November asking to
proceed with its unsolicited proposal for the development of the Bonifacio
South Pointe.
This was
after the BCDA put aside the Swiss challenge for the unsolicited proposal of SM
Land to develop the area and decided to conduct the bidding for the property,
in line with a directive from the Office of the President.
In August
2010, real estate firms were asked to submit proposals to challenge the
unsolicited proposal of SM Land for the property but the proceedings were put
on hold with a review by Malacañang of the lease and other issues.
With a TRO
issued for the bidding of the Bonifacio South Pointe, Radoc said the BCDA will
have to comply with the high tribunal.
“We are
suspending all activities related to the bidding in deference to the Supreme
Court order,” she said.
In the
meantime, interested bidders will not be allowed to purchase the terms of
reference for the development of the property.
The BCDA said
in the notice of invitation for the bidding of the property earlier that
interested firms can purchase the documents from Jan. 3 until Feb. 15.
Radoc said
that five firms have so far bought the terms of reference and they have been
informed by the BCDA of the latest development.
She also said
the BCDA will not push through with the pre-bid conference scheduled on Jan. 18
at the BCDA’s office in Taguig, unless the TRO would be lifted before that
date.
“We are
hopeful the Supreme Court will see the merits of our case. We’ll see what
happens,” she said.
The
33.1-hectare Bonifacio South Pointe is located along Lawton Avenue, Fort Bonifacio
in Taguig City.
The property
is occupied by the Army Support Command and Special Services Unit of the
Philippine Army, the Bonifacio Naval Station, and the Philippine Marine Corps
of the Philippine Navy.
The BCDA is
looking for interested firms to apply for eligibility and submit bids for a 55
percent share in an incorporated joint venture (JV) which will own and develop
the property.
Interested
firms must have a financial bid no less than P13.263 billion or $323.499
million.
The BCDA will
hold a 45- percent share in the JV.
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