Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong raised concern that companies intending to participate in the city’s public-private partnership (PPP) projects will have doubts on the city government’s credibility to evaluate and objectively decide on what projects are advantageous to the city.
The mayor made the declaration during the regular management committee meeting Tuesday as he expressed frustration on the outcome of the voting of the city’s Public-Private Partnership for the People (P4) Screening Committee that granted the Original Proponent Status (OPS) to Robinsons Land Corporation for the proposed multi-billion development of the city public market.
He stated he was saddened on the outcome of the PPP selection process supposed to have been based on the merits of the proposals submitted for assessment and evaluation.
The city chief executive disclosed the city government will publish the designs, the results of the evaluation of the two proponents for the city’s market development project, among others, for transparency to send a clear message that the evaluation and the selection of the city’s development partners should be based on the merits of the proposals.
Earlier, the city’s P4 Selection Committee with a vote of 5 members in favor of Robinsons, 2 members in favor of SM Prime Holdings, and 2 members abstaining granted the OPS to Robinsons after an extensive deliberation of both the proposals for the P6 billion market development project.
City Administrator Bonifacio dela Peña, who chairs the city’s P4 Selection Committee, said that he was not remiss in constantly reminding the members to vote for the proposals based on merits.
He added that in terms of completeness, both companies complied with the stringent documentary requirements, but based on the substance, Robinsons had some lacking data that constrained the sub-committees from coming out with a realistic assessment and evaluation of the proposals.
Under its proposal, Robinsons proposed the put up of two structures in an area covering more than 45,000 square meters with one structure within over 20,000 square meters to be owned and operated by the city for its market and parking needs, and the other structure within over 25,000 square meters for the company’s mixed-use needs. The company stated it is willing to spend over P6.418 billion for the project to be completed in 2 and a half years with a lease duration of 50 years automatically renewable for another 25 years.
On the other hand, SM Prime Holdings proposed it will build a single 7-storey structure within over 30,400 square meters within the city public market where the first 2 floors will be turned over to the city government for its public market stalls. The company will spend more than P5.4 billion for the 2-year project that will have a lease duration of only 50 years.
The P4 Selection Committee proceedings will be transmitted to the City Mayor for appropriate action, thus, the future of the market development project will depend on the decision of the city chief executive on the matter.
By Dexter A. See
