Left and Right Development by SM Group

[CAPTAIN NAUTILUS]

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By Daphne J. Magturo, Reporter



Rules clear reclamation obstacle



THE GOVERNMENT has finally issued rules on approval of reclamation projects in the country, opening the door to ventures like SM group’s proposal to reclaim and develop a combined 600 hectares of land along Manila Bay shores for more than P100 billion.


The implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for Executive Order No. 146 (EO 146), under National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)-Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) Joint Order No. 01-2015 that was published in a newspaper last Saturday, outlined requirements and procedures for securing approval for such projects. EO 146, signed on Nov. 13, 2013, transferred to the NEDA Board, chaired by President Benigno S.C. Aquino III, the authority to approve reclamation projects, leaving PRA with the task of processing, evaluating and recommending such ventures for final government approval.

EO 146, however, could not be implemented until the IRR was issued and all proposed reclamation projects were then put on hold. Last December, PRA Assistant General Manager for Reclamation and Regulation Joselito D. Gonzales said the agency was “deferring any action” on SM Group’s proposals until the IRR was issued.

“The IRR made explicit the requirements for proposed reclamation projects. Putting them under NEDA Board... allows for a more holistic review,” NEDA Deputy Director-General Rolando G. Tungpalan said in a telephone interview yesterday.

“The proposals will now have to take into account the projects’ impact on the Philippines’ transport systems, zoning ordinances, flood control, drainage and the like.”

Besides listing a host of documentary requirements, including a project feasibility study and environmental permit, the IRR also required contracts for such projects to be auctioned off in accordance with Republic Act No. 9184, or the Build-Operate-Transfer Law, the NEDA Joint Venture Guidelines of 2013 “or such other laws, rules and regulations as may be applicable.” Exempted from this particular requirement are reclamation activities forming part of civil works of infrastructure projects like airports, ports and power plants (which still require NEDA Board approval); local government-initiated projects that are completely funded by these units; and national government-initiated ventures wholly funded by the General Appropriations Act or state firms.

Those initiated or proposed by private entities or else funded through partnership with them should undergo Swiss Challenge, the IRR said.

Reclamation projects whose contracts were executed before effectivity of EO 146 “shall be processed by the PRA,” while those covered by the order but were undertaken without environmental permit and NEDA Board approval “shall be considered illegal and shall be forfeited to the state...”

The cities of Pasay and Parañaque, in 2013 and last year respectively, both awarded to the SM Group separate contracts to reclaim and develop around 300 hectares each in Manila Bay under their jurisdiction for P54.5 billion and P50.19 billion, respectively.

PRA and SM officials declined to comment on this development. The IRR, which was signed by Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan and PRA Chairman Roberto T. Muldong, will take effect on Feb. 22.

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[bleedingboi]

Bisan unsaon ug develop ang Manila, puro gaba gyapon puy-an.

[CAPTAIN NAUTILUS]

Bisan unsaon ug develop ang Manila, puro gaba gyapon puy-an.

The evils of capitalism.. That's what my classmate would always say.

00

SM group is very aggressive on development, I'm just wandering what the Ayalas will do regarding this. Looks like there is no more competition coming from them.

[bleedingboi]

The evils of capitalism.. That's what my classmate would always say. .

Capitalism in an extreme way, can be evil because for one to become rich and acquires great wealth, someone on the other side of the fence must lose some.

[The_JACKAL]

Ma pordoy ang Rose Pharmacy ani kay daghan na kau SM

[makal34]

wala rba ni au ning sm modala ug planning...dli parehas aning ayala like sa business park na nindot kaau pag kadala..kaning sm same aning naa sa recle area perting bati.a jud ug dating..

[Joseph20102011]

Walay ayo ang SM compared sa Ayala sa tinuod lang. Ang SM murag "Sa Merkado" ang meaning.

[H.Wolowitz]

Ma pordoy ang Rose Pharmacy ani kay daghan na kau SM

mercury drugstore guro imo pasabot boss hehe

[The_JACKAL]

mercury drugstore guro imo pasabot boss hehe

Hahaha.... ahaka naglibog na hinoun ko da Mercury diay to?

[lstorya]

On a business point of view, understandable ngano ingana ang style sa SM compared to Ayala. Ang tag iya, si Henry Sy, is a pure Chinese guy, meaning pangwarta dyud ang tumong. If you noticed, huot kaau ang SM, gi design dyud siya ni Henry nga mapahimuslan ang kada square inch sa iyang mga stores. Unlike sa Ayala whos owned by the Zobels who are Spanish (mixed and pure depending on the generation), mas enclined sila sa mga views, landscape and stuff, they uphold beauty and elegance more, ang sa insek kay pangwarta dyud. If nakaadto lang mo sa SM Aura sa Global City, maka ingon ko nga mao to ang pwede i compete sa SM against sa Ayala sa pasusyalay lang, pero medyo huot lang gihapon, the building itself looks very unique, pero strategically planned lang gihapon ang mga location sa stores.