Posted on June 18, 2014 09:44:43 PM [
BusinessWorld Online ]
BACOLOD CITY -- The row between
developers Ayala Land, Inc. (ALI) and SM Prime Holdings, Inc. over government-owned
properties here entered a new phase with SM Prime filing a new complaint in
court.
The new civil case is seen further
delaying the planned development of the properties into a P6 billion mixed-use
complex by Ayala Land.
Ayala Land has yet to undertake
development at the site, although it conducted soil tests in March and asked
the city government last month to reclassify the land for commercial use.
Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo G.
Marañon, Jr., who showed a copy of the complaint to reporters, said the delay
will adversely affect the delivery of services to the poor.
“Proceeds of the sale and lease are
intended to provide health, education, and livelihood services to the poor of
Negros Occidental,” he said.
In its new complaint, SM is asking the
court to nullify the deed of conditional sale and contract of lease between the
provincial government and Ayala Land for a 3.6587-hectare (ha) property and an
adjacent 4.0481-ha lot, respectively.
The new complaint was filed on May 21
before the Bacolod Regional Trial Court, about four months after SM’s first
complaint was dismissed.
Bacolod RTC Branch 50 Judge Estefanio
Libutan, Jr., in a decision dated Jan. 23, denied SM’s petition to nullify the
resolution declaring the July 7, 2011, bidding a failure and to be named the
winning bidder. -- Adrian P. Nemes III
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