DOTC chief says NG should take over major reclamation projects

MANILA, Philippines - Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya believes that major reclamation project along Manila Bay as well as portions of Las Piñas City in Parañaque and Pasay City should be supervised by the government.

Abaya said in an interview with reporters that the government should oversee the bidding of contracts for major reclamation projects.

He pointed out that the government should lay down a policy on major reclamation projects to make sure that the country’s coffers are not shortchanged.

“There should be a policy. Do we leave it to the local government units or significant reclamation projects should have National Government oversight,” he stressed.

There are several reclamation projects along Manila Bay such as the unsolicited proposal of SM Land Inc. to reclaim 300 hectares along Manila Bay.

SM Land has put forward to the city government of Pasay a proposal to spend P54.5 billion to reclaim a 300-hectare property along Manila Bay. It offered to reclaim and develop approximately 300 hectares of foreshore and onshore areas of Manila Bay located at the western part of the jurisdiction of Pasay City.

The Sy firm offered to fully finance the project including the costs of all necessary permits and clearances from government agencies as well as other expenses to comply with all the government and legal requirements.

The development would be undertaken through a joint venture agreement with the Pasay City government.

Of the total land to be reclaimed, SM Land said 51 percent or 153 hectares including roads and open spaces would be allocated to the Pasay City government.

Interested companies were given until Nov. 4 to submit counter proposals.

To be entitled to submit counter-proposals, interested parties should have a minimum net worth of P50 billion. Interested parties should have undertaken and completed a similar reclamation project with an area of not less than 120 hectares preferably within the Manila Bay area.

On the other hand, property giant Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) asked Pasay City mayor Antonino Calixto for a 60-day extension for the submission of counter proposals for the massive reclamation project along Manila Bay.

“This will confirm our interest to submit a counter-proposal...We are the Philippines’ leading real estate developer and we are committed to be a strong partner in nation building,” Ayala Land said.

The deadline to submit a counter proposal by Nov. 4 was “too short to develop a master plan, study its financial and environmental impact, and how to maximize the benefits to Pasay, the National Government, and the public at large, among other things,” it added.

Meanwhile, Sen. Cynthia Villar has asked the Senate to rethink the powers given to the PRA to approve reclamation projects under the National Reclamation Program, saying lax regulation has endangered the environment and residents of nearby communities.

In a privilege speech, Villar said Senate Resolution 294 sought to review the mandate of PRA and assess how it has exercised its powers to approve reclamation projects, such as the controversial one at Manila Bay.

The PRA has approved a National Reclamation Program (NRP) covering a total of 102 reclamation projects over a total area of 38,272 hectares within Manila Bay, Visayas and Mindanao.

Villar said the 38 projects of the total 102 reclamation projects under the NRP would involve 26,234 hectares in Manila Bay alone.