Bidding of template lot at the SRP soon

CEBU, Philippines - Once the Cebu City Council approves the terms and reference on the sale of the San Pedro Calungsod templete lot at the South Road Properties, bidding of the 26-hectare property would immediately start.

Lawyer Jose Daluz III, chairman of the city committee on awards, said the proposed draft contract would be submitted to the council within this month for concurrence.

“We are almost done sa (with the) terms and reference sa disposal sa property. We will submit this to the council for approval and request a public bidding for the 26 hectares,” he told reporters yesterday.

Daluz, Mayor Michael Rama’s executive assistant, said that the contract would include a provision stating that whoever would purchase the property, “should put an arena that is free of cost to the city.”

Rama has been planning to develop a multi-purpose stadium at the SRP inclusion of that specific provision reflects that desire.

“The mayor wants an arena at the SRP. Mao nay nalanganan sa (That delayed the crafting of the) terms and reference kay (because it is a) delicate ang paghimo sa (matter to include in the) conditions and details,” he said.

Daluz said earlier the property is worth around P5 billion.

He said that the stadium, a “mega multipurpose center” that would be a venue for international concerts, sports matches like tennis, and international conferences and the like, would have commercial establishments around it.

Recently, Robinsons Land Corporation and SM Prime Holdings Inc. sent communication feelers to the mayor’s office on their intention to acquire parcels of land at the SRP, particularly Lot 8-B which is located near the Calungsod templete.

 â€œWe are open to an acquisition through a joint venture with the city government or (through) an outright sale,” Robinsons said, in a December 6 letter to Rama.

SM Prime Holding Inc. Market Research and Planning Vice President Ronald Tumao, on the other hand, also expressed their interest to purchase lot 8-B, which has an area of approximately 263, 384 square meters.

The targeted lot was the site of the National Thanksgiving Mass celebrating the canonization of Saint Pedro Calungsod last year. The block is just across the lot sold to SM Prime Holdings and along the Mambaling access road.—(FREEMAN)