Right of firm over road at IT Park upheld

CEBU, Philippines - The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) has affirmed the right of Cebu Property Ventures and Development Corporation (CPVDC) over W. Geonzon Street at the IT Park in Barangay Apas, Cebu City.

 PEZA director general Lilia de Lima made the confirmation following the request of CPVDC president, Francis Monera on the required perimeter fencing of Cebu IT Park as contained under Article III, Section 3.1 of CPVDC’s Registration Agreement with PEZA dated October 2001.

 In a letter dated July 30, 2014 addressed to Monera, De Lima said the need to fence the property is necessary in order to define the boundaries of the ecozone and preserve its integrity as a separate customs territory.

 “In view thereof, CPVDC as the developer/operator of the Cebu IT Park was required under Article III, Section  3.1  of  its  Registration Agreement with PEZA to construct perimeter fences that will physically segregate/isolate the IT Park from the rest of the adjacent area, more so that portion of the adjacent area used to be the site of the Cebu City Jail,” De Lima said.

 De Lima further re-affirmed in her letter the PEZA conditions for the perimeter fencing of the Cebu IT Park under CPVDC’s Registration Agreement with PEZA as developer of/operator of the said IT Park.

 The W. Geonzon Street is the subject of dispute between CPVDC and Filinvest Land, Inc. (FLI), which is undertaking the P5-billion business process outsourcing complex, a joint venture with the Province of Cebu that owns the lot previously occupied by the city jail.

 This Build-Transfer-Operate project is owned by the Cebu provincial government to be managed by FLI after the building completion and any transaction related to the project will have to be between the province and CPVDC.

 FLI earlier sought help from the provincial government and the city government after the CPVDC allegedly refused to grant access to FLI at W. Geonzon Street, which caused delay in the implementation of the project.

Last August 22, Allan Alfon, vice president of FLI, sent a letter to CPVDC to discuss and resolve the issue.

 Despite the ruling of PEZA, the CPVDC is open to work closely with FLI to resolve the road conflict.

 In his reply to FLI, Monera thanked Alfon for echoing similar sentiments to discuss and resolve the issue on the access road.

 In a letter dated August 26, 2014, Monera said they have met with Vice Governor Agnes Magpale last August 19 to explore options in formulating an agreement.

 He said they agreed on a timeline – until October 15, 2014 – as there are a lot of details to be discussed to reach an agreement.

 “Let us work together to move forward and resolve this matter, while at the same time honoring our respective rights and business interests, as well as the commitments we have to our stakeholders,” Monera said.

 A source from the Capitol also said the province, through Magpale, is formulating an agreement between CPVDC to come up with “an acceptable agreement without having to jeopardize or antagonize any of our economic developers.”

 The source who requested anonymity told The Freeman, “Hapit naman gyud masulbad, di lang unta pamolitikanhon.” (FREEMAN)