Posted on January 31, 2016
10:50:00 PM
By Daphne J. Magturo,
Reporter[ bworldonline.com]
THE SAN MIGUEL group and
the developer of the Philippine Arena are proposing a P338.8-billion
public-private partnership (PPP) project that will reclaim a part of Manila
Bay, as well as build an expressway, a commercial area, a coastal sea barrier
and flood control system.
“The project’s main purpose
is to protect the Manila Bay coastline against flooding from the sea by means
of a city flood barrier and coastal sea barrier, and provide an attractive
urban waterfront development with space for new commercial activities. The
coastal sea barrier also functions as an expressway that cuts the travel time
between Bataan and the National Capital Region,” read a Jan. 11 project brief
from the Public Works department.
“Along the barrier, the
project also offers reclaimed land for urban and economic development. In
between the reclaimed land and the present shoreline are mangrove forests that
help develop the ecological value of Manila Bay.”
Information on the size of
the proposed project was not immediately available. But at P338.8 billion,
that’s triple SM Prime Holdings, Inc.’s reclamation deals covering a combined
600 hectares along Manila Bay.
“This is an unsolicited
proposal first submitted by the New San Jose Builders, Inc. and proposed to be
implemented through an alternative PPP scheme under the build-operate-transfer
law, particularly a build-gradual transfer-build-operate-transfer hybrid
modality,” the document read.
New San Jose, which
actually filed the proposal back on Nov. 19, 2013, is the company behind the
Philippine Arena in Bulacan, Bataan’s historical resort park Las Casas
Filipinas de Acuzar, and residential condominiums in Metro Manila under the
brand “Victoria,” according to its Web site.
The developer then
partnered with San Miguel Holdings Corp. and the original proponent’s name was
changed to Coastal Development Consortium on Feb. 2015, according to the
project’s timeline.
Asked what drew his
interest to partner with the developer, San Miguel Corp. President and Chief
Operating Officer Ramon S. Ang replied in a text message yesterday: “[We’re]
good friends.”
The department also bared
the project cost breakdown in dollar terms: the flood barrier will require
upfront investment of $1.4 billion, the expressway will cost $900 million and
the coastal barrier, $5.4 billion. The concession period will run for 30 years.
The Philippine Reclamation
Authority (PRA) is currently bidding out the P408.43-million consultancy
contract to study how Manila Bay and communities around it can be affected by
reclamation projects.
Environmental consultants
who want to bag the deal will have more time to join the auction after the
government extended the deadline to submit eligibility documents to Feb. 2 from
Jan. 25, according to a Jan. 19 bid bulletin from the PRA. “In accordance with
the maximum allowable period... the deadline for the submission of the
eligibility documents is moved to February 02, 2016 at 12:00NN,” the document
quoted Bids and Awards Committee Chairman Floro C. Urcia as saying.
Submitted documents will be
opened on the same day and the PRA will draw up a short list of consultants
composed of up to five groups, according to a Jan. 12 request for expression of
interest.
“The consultant must be a
reputable firm with at least 10 years of consulting business operation. In case
of a joint venture or consortium/consortia, any member firm should have at
least 10 years of consulting business,” the PRA said in the same document.
At least four companies have
already bought eligibility documents, according to PRA Assistant General
Manager for Reclamation and Regulation Joselito D. Gonzales.
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