THE consortium of San Miguel Corp. and New San Jose Builders, Inc. has been given original proponent status for its proposed P399.66-billion Manila Bay flood control project.
Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark A. Villar said Coastal Development Consortium’s (CDC) Manila Bay Integrated Flood Control, Coastal Defense and Expressway Project is under evaluation by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).
“It’s already with the NEDA. They (CDC) have original proponent status,” Mr. Villar told reporters on Jan. 8.
According to the Private-Public Partnership (PPP) Center Web site, the project is already awaiting approval of the Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) of NEDA.
Mr. Villar said that there are just some concerns that need to be ironed out.
CDC last year submitted an unsolicited proposal for the project that consists of a spillway that would release water from Laguna de Bay to Manila Bay.
It is proposed to be implemented through an “alternative” PPP Scheme under the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Law, particularly a Build-Gradual Transfer-Build-Operate-Transfer (BGT-BOT) hybrid scheme. — P.P.C. Marcelo
