By Lawrence Agcaoili (The Philippine
Star) | Updated November 22, 2013 - 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines - The 14-member
Pasay City Council is scheduled to convene on Monday to tackle the growing opposition
to the planned 300-hectare reclamation project along Manila Bay now subject to
a tug-of-war between SM Land of retail magnate Henry Sy and property giant
Ayala Land Inc.
Richard Advincula, councilor of the
2nd District of Pasay City, said in an interview that the council would conduct
a public hearing on Monday to discuss the controversial reclamation project.
The public hearing that was supposed
to tackle the letters of Ayala Land as well as S&P Construction Technology
and Development Co. Inc. was originally scheduled yesterday but was postponed
to Monday.
“They (members of the Sanguiniang
Panglungsod of Pasay City) are curious what the letters were all about,”
Advincula said.
Advincula, who is head of the
committee on laws of the Pasay City Council, pointed out that all groups that
are supporting and opposing the proposed reclamation project are welcome to
attend the public hearing.
He pointed out the outcome of the
public hearings would be forwarded to the public private partnership (PPP) selection
committee which is now choosing a partner for the proposed 300-hectare
reclamation project.
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Advincula, who is also a member of the
Pasay city government’s PPP selection committee, said the contract to be
entered into by the Pasay City government would have to be ratified by the
Pasay City Council.
The Sy-led firm offered to fully
finance the P54.5 billion project including the costs of all necessary permits
and clearances from government agencies as well as other expenses to comply
with all government and legal requirements.
SM Land, in its letter to Pasay City
PPP committee, said that in 1994, it entered into a joint venture with the PEA
for the reclamation and development of a 141-hectare property known as Central
Business Part 1 Island A, which is now the site of the Mall of Asia complex.
Aside from Ayala Land and S&P
Construction, other companies including State Properties Corp. chaired by
Washington Sycip and GT Land Development of taipan George Ty bought documents
for the submission of counter proposals.
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