Pasay City Council meets Monday to tackle reclamation project

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.

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.