Pasay council votes to push ahead with reclamation project

Manila Bay. INQUIRER PHOTO/BOY ABING

MANILA, Philippines — Reversing a previous order, the Pasay City Council voted on Monday to proceed with a controversial P54.5-billion reclamation project which the city had awarded the group of Henry Sy.

The council voted 8-5 in favor of a resolution to go ahead with the reclamation project awarded to SM Land through a joint venture agreement with the local government. The new resolution was issued two weeks after the council unanimously approved a resolution recalling its previous actions in connection with the project.

The project was awarded to SM Land in late November in the absence of any counter-proposal from rival companies, which had questioned the selection process.  The council previously recalled the award of the contract but voted on Monday to proceed with the partnership with SM.

Severo Madrona, Pasay City legal officer and vice chairman of the city’s PPP (public-private partnership) selection committee, confirmed the council’s 8-5 decision favoring the partnership with SM Land in a text message. “Yes, it is true,” he said.

The project involves the reclamation and development of foreshore and offshore areas of Manila Bay located at the western part of the city. Based on the deal, SM is to undertake and fully finance the project, including all the costs of all the necessary permits and clearances from government agencies and the expenses to comply with all the government and legal requirements. The land is the city’s contribution to the joint venture.

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