Makati firm to do SRP drainage master plan

CEBU, Philippines - A Makati City-based consultancy firm will formulate the detailed engineering design of the drainage master plan to solve the flooding problem at the South Road Properties.

Three giant land developers that own parcels of land at the SRP agreed during a meeting last Monday to hire the services of DCCD Engineering Corporation.

The three developers are the SM Prime Holdings, Filinvest Land, Inc., and AyalaLand.

 “We agreed to endorse a consultant named DCCD Engineering Corporation. We requested them to fly next Monday (August 10) so final negotiation on their professional fee can be discussed in the presence of SRP Management and the city’s OBO (Office of the Building Official),” said FLI vice president Allan Alfon.

Alfon said at least three consultancy firms made presentation during the meeting. He, however, refused to name the other two firms.

He said that they also agreed with the developers not to divulge who presented on behalf of DCCD Engineering Corporation in the meeting.

“We agreed to keep it under wraps who the consultant is. But what we can say, all of us at one time or another had engagements with this consultant,” he said.

“Recommendation was arrived at based on detailed scope of work and competitive price offer,” he added.

Alfon, however, declined to divulge the competitive price offer and further details on the scope of work of the consultant pending negotiation on August 10.

He said they are not limiting the professional fee of the consultant as long as the detailed engineering for the drainage master plan will be formulated.

When asked who will shoulder the expenses of the professional fee of the consultant, Alfon said the matter would be discussed on Monday.

They have not also discussed who would implement the plan.

According to the official website of DCCD Engineering Corporation, the company’s main office is along Amorsolo Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City. It has been in operation for the past 45 years and has completed over 15,000 projects nationwide.

One of the projects of DCCD Engineering Corporation is the Ayala Lahug Business Park or the Cebu I.T. Park. It constructed the wastewater treatment plant and the site utilities such as water supply, storm drainage, among others.

Other than drainage master plan, the company is also into “planning and engineering of high-rise buildings and building management systems, mixed-use complexes, industrial plants, human settlements, resort complexes, and industrial estates, including specialized water and wastewater treatment systems, power generation and energy conservation, communications as well as roads, port works, electrification, irrigation and other similar infrastructure projects.”

Alfon said the consultant also undertook projects involving developments of FLI, SM, and AyalaLand.

Earlier, Mayor Michael Rama appointed Alfon and SRP Management Office chief Roberto Varquez to head a task force that would work together with the city government in coming up with the drainage master plan in the area.

This was after the city government received three letters from FLI concerning the flooding problem in the area during heavy downpour. FLI is developing 40 hectares in the 300-hectare property under a joint venture agreement with the city. It is also developing another 10.6 hectare in the area.

Meanwhile, SM owns 30 hectares where the SM Seaside City is located. The consortium of Ayala Land-Cebu Holdings Inc. and SM Prime Holding, on the other hand, is yet to be awarded the lot it won as the highest bidder (P10.009 billion) for a 26.3-hectare property last June 30.

FLI is also waiting for the formal awarding of 19.2 hectares of the SRP after a bid of P6.7 billion. — (FREEMAN)