CFI seeks to delay action on Megawide’s proposal to develop Carbon market

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu CFI Community Cooperative (CFI) is asking the Joint Venture Selection Committee (JVSC) of the Cebu City Government to defer invitation for a competitive challenge on a proposal for the redevelopment of Carbon Market and its adjacent sites.

CFI chairman Winston Garcia, in a letter dated October 8, 2020 addressed to JVSC chairman Floro Casas Jr., expressed his surprise to the public invitation considering that the cooperative has a pending proposal with the committee.

The JVSC has issued a public invitation to challenge the proposal of Megawide Construction Corp. involving a multi-billion peso project.

Sometime on March 12, 2020, the CFI submitted a formal proposal focusing on the redevelopment as well as operation of the Carbon Market into a tourist-friendly and professionally managed market with the objective of improving livelihoods of the existing vendors.

The proposal--Modernizing Carbon Market to improve livelihoods—was allegedly not given the courtesy of a response by the JVSC.

Garcia said it is his impression that Megawide’s proposal has no imprimatur from the City Council as of yet. He said Vice Mayor Michael Rama told him that the City Council is set to hear the matter on October 21 yet.

“We submit that courtesy and the law mandates your committee must first consult with and submit the proposal of Megawide to the scrutiny and approval of the City Council of Cebu before it can attempt to invite a challenge on the said proposal,” Garcia said.

He also pointed out that the limited amount of time of 10 days afforded to prospective challengers to Megawide’s proposal is repugnant to a fair, open, and competitive challenge considering the magnitude of the project.

In his letter, Garcia also raised several “critical questions” that are left hanging as to negate a more transparent, fair, and competitive challenge to Megawide’s proposal, as well as the seriousness of the JVSC to invite credible and serious challengers.

These include the design of the project if the Megawide’s proposal involves the development of the city’s historical park-- the Freedom Park-- into a commercial area for commercial condominiums and offices; the types and standards of commercial development; minimum capital a joint venture partner; project’s duration, among others.

Aside from deferment of the invitation, Garcia also asked to give prospective challengers a period of at least 60 days to prepare and submit a competitive challenge if the City Council approves Megawide’s proposal.

He also urged the JVSC to act on the CFI long-pending proposal by submitting it for evaluation and disposition by the City Council.

“We need not remind you that these matters are better left to City’s elected representatives’ wisdom with whom their constituents have voted upon to repose their trust to decide crucial matters involving their patrimonial properties and their heritage,” Garcia added. — FPL (FREEMAN)