CDC denies blocking HK investor’s plans

CLARK FIELD, Pampanga — The state-run Clark Development Corp. (CDC) has clarified that it is not blocking plans of a Hong Kong-based leisure estate developer to pursue projects worth some P100 million at this special economic zone.

The CDC, however, insisted it is standing pat against any breach of contract in the projects.

Denny Wang, chief operating officer and director of Yats International (YI), has accused the CDC of blocking his company’s plan to build a six-suite lodging house at the Mimosa Leisure Estate and five luxury housing units on Lily Hill as an extension of its P400-million Clearwater resort now nearing completion in a separate area here.

Victor Jose Luciano, CDC executive vice president, said the housing projects, which YI has proposed to undertake at Mimosa and Lily Hill, did not conform with its contract with the CDC.

CDC records show that on Aug. 3 last year, YI signed a lease agreement with the CDC for its conversion of a shut-down "fun house" into a digital music and recording studio, snack bar and restaurant, wine bar and pub, catering services and food concessionaire outlet at Mimosa.

YI, however, later demolished the old building and asked the CDC to allow it to construct a six-suite lodging house there.

"We already have 99 units of still unfinished villas at Mimosa, and if YI wants to finish and lease them, that would be okay. But its proposal to build a lodging house on the former fun house site is contrary to the zoning master plan at Mimosa," Luciano said.

YI has also dropped its plan to build a restaurant in favor of five vacation villas on a 1,000-square-meter area on Lily Hill, near the duty-free shops.

"The change in the plans at Lily Hill would not only be a breach of its contract with the CDC, but will also be contrary to the zoning master plan at the (ecozone)," Luciano said.