Government fails anew to bid out property in Japan

MANILA, Philippines - The government failed anew to bid its real estate property in Fujimi, Japan due to some technical problems, Finance Undersecretary Estela Sales said yesterday.

The bidding for the 50-year lease and development contract of the property was scheduled yesterday but this did not push through.

Sales did not elaborate on the problems encountered by the government’s bids and awards committee but said it had nothing to do with the petition filed before the Supreme Court seeking to stop the bidding.

Sales said the government would continue processing the bidding of the property unless there is a temporary restraining order from the Court preventing the government from proceeding with the sale.

A group led by Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. has asked the Supreme Court to stop the bidding of the property, saying that it needs to preserve a property that represents the country’s culture and heritage.

Three real estate groups with presence in Japan have expressed interest in vying for the property.

The government had planned to bid out the property for at least P3 billion.

Earlier, the Save Fujimi Property International Network has been staging protests in front of the property which is currently used as the residence of the Philippine Ambassador to Japan.

The group has said that the government’s Fujimi property has significant cultural and historic value and should not be commercialized.

Filipinos opposed to the sale include Bienvenido Lumbera, National Artist for Literature and University of the Philippines Professor Emeritus, Roland Tolentino, Dean of the UP Diliman College of Mass Communication and Judy Taguiwalo, Professor at the UP College of Social Work and Community Development.

The coalition has already asked the Senate through Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, chairman of the Senate committee on foreign relations to stop the bidding of the property.