City inks deal with developer: P20 billion project at South Road Properties

CEBU, Philippines —  A greener, world-class business development center in Cebu City has been envisioned to rise at the once-unproductive Pond A of the South Road Properties with the city government signing the Joint Venture Agreement with Expedition Construction Corporation at the City Hall yesterday.

It was a simple ceremony attended by Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, Vice Mayor Donaldo Hontiveros and some city councilors and other local officials and the Expedition group led by father-and-son Simon and Bryan Paz.

This project, according to Rama, was conceptualized way back during his term in 2015.

“It’s been a while that pond A remains to be water, a pond,” said Rama yesterday.

Bryan Paz said they are now starting the conceptualization, but assured it to be world-class with the introduction of new technology and environment-friendly means.

“Currently, we are starting the conceptualization of the whole area, but what I can say as early as now is that this will be a development that would be world-class. We would be introducing technology that has not been seen in the Philippines. Also this development will bring in more jobs to the people of Cebu,” he said.

“Also it will be entirely be environmentally-friendly, and of course, it will be a new attraction to an already beautiful piece of development in Cebu City which is the South Road Properties and we are proud and very honored to be part of SRP,” he added.

Paz said the master development plan has not yet been finalized, but initial project cost is at P20 billion.

Amid all obstacles that came its way, Rama said the project had come to the “moment of truth”.

Rama said this project is the answer to how SRP and the long-time problem with the Inayawan landfill will be addressed.

“This is it!” said Rama as he signed the JVA with Expedition Construction Corporation after the former was given the authority to sign it by the City Council.

Hontiveros assured they went through the right process and listened to the side of the minority before giving the mayor authority to enter into this agreement.

“For the information of everybody, it was a resolution sponsored by councilor Raymond Garcia in October 2021. And one thing I’ve learned from Mayor Mike Rama (being the former presiding officer of the City Council) is to give show respect to the minority, to give them the floor and let their voices be heard and we all did that, we went to the right process,” said Hontiveros.

The private proponent, Expedition, has expressed its excitement over the project.

“To fill up pond A in the SRP and to rehabilitate into a productive use of the Inayawan Sanitary landfill in that area. We are excited to deliver to the people of Cebu, a world-class development business center, recreational amenities, and a medical facility to this once unproductive area,” said Brian Paz.

No amount of money will be spent by the city government on the amenities and medical facility and the rehabilitation of the Inayawan landfill accordingly.

The matter on the recreational amenities was part of the matters that the City Council wanted to be included. This would include a basketball court, a tennis court, a football field, and most likely, a skatepark as discussed earlier.

The medical facility which Paz mentioned will be a hospital, which will be at the discretion of the city government as to its specialization or type, said Garcia.

As to the Inayawan landfill, though there are some claimants to some portions of the said land, Expedition said they are positive this will be resolved soon.

Regardless, Garcia also said that Inayawan still needs to be cleaned up and restored.

“We will have a greener Cebu City with this project. Not only are they going to farm out maybe 3 to 4 million garbage (at the Inayawan landfill) or even more,” said Garcia.

To do it, the young Paz said they will be introducing the latest technology.

“We are applying in this Inayawan sanitary landfill the latest technology which would be the first in the Philippines,” said Paz.

SRP Management Office manager Engr. Roberto "Bo" Varquez, for his part, also expressed the importance of this project, saying that pond A will finally be of used and is expected to generate more jobs for the Cebuanos.

Pond A alone consists 20% of the available lot, an additional 60 hectares of development at SRP.

“This is a very important development for us…This will be an additional 60 hectares of development….including putting up an export zone,” said Varquez.

The inclusion of the Inayawan landfill in the JVA is also expected to address the negative impact at the SRP, said Varquez.

A bridge is also envisioned from Inayawan to the SRP, serving as an access road, decongesting the main road. – JMD (FREEMAN)