Rama: P246 billion SRP project proposal needs strict scrutiny

CEBU, Philippines — While he welcomes developments at the South Road Properties (SRP), Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama said yesterday that the proposed P246-billion project for the area by a private company needs thorough scrutiny.

Last January 16, Mandaraig Infrabuild Corporation (MIC), through a press conference, disclosed that they submitted an unsolicited proposal to help the city implement P246 billion worth of infrastructure projects at the SRP.

Some investors from the Middle East and Europe have reportedly signified their willingness to invest in the city government projects together with MIC.

An initial funding of $2.1 billion is awaiting clearance from the Anti-Money Laundering Council and other agencies before its release and utilization, a report from the Philippine News Agency disclosed.

Cebu City Administrator Collin Rossel, who was also present during MIC’s press conference, confirmed that the city government is exploring a possible partnership with MIC for some “mega projects” that will include a new City Hall building and other “Singapore-inspired” buildings.

Although Rama welcomes the proposal, he said via Zoom over Sugboanon channel that there is a “need for perusing and dichotomizing, and going towards up to the bottom.”

Rama stressed that everything should be fair and right.

“We have to look at it from the point of being fair and being right. So if this will all be in conformity in being fair and being right, why not?” added Rama.

Rosell also assured that the proposal will undergo tedious study with the Joint Venture Selection Committee before the city government forges any agreement with MIC.

The mayor also has to get the nod and authority from the City Council to sign a JVA with MIC, if it will push through.

BOARDWALK

Meanwhile, Rama is also open to the idea presented by City Councilor Rey Gealon for a boardwalk at the SRP like the one that connects Sentosa island to the mainland in Singapore.

The mayor advised Gealon, who also chairs the City’s Traffic Management Committee, to discuss his idea of a boardwalk at the SRP with Architect Joseph Michael “Yumi” Espina, acting head of the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO).

“Ihatag lang na ni Yumi. All ideas are always welcome. Synthesizing it is very important. Dili man ta urban planner, but Yumi,” Rama said.

The CPDO created an animation generated from a computer-aided design of a concept for SRP that got featured in the video presentation about the vision for a Singapore-like city during the mayor’s inaugural on June 30, 2022.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) also presented the concept of an SRP boardwalk during its Unified Directors’ Conference at Radisson Blue Hotel in April 2022.

In their concept, CPDO and DPWH placed the boardwalk along the northwestern side of SRP facing the city’s mainland, a 4-kilometer walk from across Inayawan to across Duljo while Gealon’s idea is at the opposite side facing the sea from the NuStar complex through the new Plaza sa Katawhan, a 3-kilometer stretch with a concept akin to the Sentosa Boardwalk of Singapore. (CEBU NEWS)