By Lailany P. Gomez | November 2, 2013
[ manilastandardtoday.com ]
The Transportation Department said the
government should oversee the bidding of contracts for major reclamation
projects such as the development of Manila Bay in the western section of Pasay
City to ensure a level playing field for all players.
Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio
Abaya told reporters the government should implement a policy on its role in
reclamation projects, such as the one in Manila Bay and nearby areas of Las
Piñas City and Parañaque City.
“The [Philippine Reclamation Authority]
will have a role, but the bidding is being done by the local government. These
are significant reclamation projects. There should be a policy on whether you
leave it to the local government or such significant reclamation should have
the national government oversight,” he said.
Abaya was asked for comment on Pasay
City government’s joint venture with land developer SM Land Inc. to reclaim a
300-hectare raw land of Manila Bay at the western part of Pasay City.
SM Land offered to spend at least
P54.5 billion to undertake and fully finance the project, which includes costs
of all necessary permits and clearances from government agencies and the
expenses to comply with all the government and legal requirements.
The Pasay City government published
the notice of unsolicited proposal and invitation for competing proposals on
Oct. 1 this year and gave all interested parties until Nov. 4 to submit
counterproposals.
Ayala Land Inc., however, asked the
Pasay City government to extend the Nov. 4 deadline, saying the notice was too
short to create a master plan.
Pasay City legal officer Severino
Madrona Jr. on Thursday rejected Ayala Land’s petition to extend the deadline
for the submission of counter bid, saying the BAC was obliged to abide by the
terms of the bid invitation.
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