2 more Filipino-Chinese traders to join Agora BOT bid

April 11, 2008

Two Filipino-Chinese traders are joining the bid to redevelop the Lapasan public market and terminal under a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) scheme.

This amid Cagayan de Oro city vice-mayor Vicente Emano’s fears that the project proponent Erwin Bryan See of the Ororama Supermarket, Inc. might back out from the project because of the rising increase in the cost of its construction from P270 million to P290 million.

City Hall records show that businessman James Giam had submitted a letter dated April 9, 2008 addressed to City Mayor Constantino Jaraula. It expressed he has heard of City Hall’s plan to pursue the redevelopment of the Lapasan public market and terminal under a BOT scheme.

“In connection thereto, I am formally registering my intention to participate in the public bidding for that purpose,” his letter obtained by this paper reads.

Giam is now asking Jaraula to allow him to buy the Bidding Form and the project’s tender documents for his eventual participation in the actual public bidding of the project.

City Hall sources disclosed that another Filipino-Chinese will soon be also submitting a letter of intent to join the public bidding for this Lapasan public market and terminal BOT facelift.

“Kini si James Giam interesado kini siya kay naa man kana siya kay naaman siya’y merkado diha sa East Bound terminal sa Gusa pero naay lain nga magpadala sab sa iyahang sulat (James Giam is interested on this project as he has his own market at the East Bound Terminal at Gusa but there is still another businessman who will also be sending his own letter),” the source who requested anonymity said.

But opposition city councilors Teodulfo “Bong” Lao, Zaldy Ocon and Roger Abaday yesterday maintained that the city has too many public markets already – Bulua Public Market, Carmen Public Market, Cogon Public Market and Puerto Public Market.

They pointed out that the Lapasan Public Market and Terminal, in all its years , had never actually took off considering that it is just a ride to Cogon Public Market.

Also, the Lapasan area where this public market and terminal squats is surrounded by three huge department stores – Gaisano City and Mall, Limketkai Mall and Ororama MegaCenter – which are just a few blocks away.

Lao who served as Lapasan former barangay chairperson for three terms said Second District Cong. Rufus Rodriguez is offering to convert the Lapasan area into a “Public City College.”

He said Rodriguez had taken into consideration that this Lapasan area would be a very conducive place for putting up a public college considering the demographic population of barangays Lapasan, Puntod, Macabalan and even Kauswagan among others.

This with particular focus on how majority of these barangays have a high population of young people who deserve a college education but do not have the means to do so.

“With the City Public College free and a mere walk away from there homes, then our young people who are poor but deserving now have no reason not to have a proper college education not just for their better future but for the future of our city,” Lao’s text message reads.

But earlier, Emano considered it a “major blunder” on their part not to immediately push through with the BOT redevelopment of this Agora complex and terminal fearing that See might now back out from undertaking the project. (By Lizanilla J. Amarga)

CLICK HERE for the latest 2nd Hand Laptops, Mobile Phones, SMART/ GLOBE /TALK 'N TEXT/ TOUCH MOBILE / SUN CELLULAR Postpaid, Pre-paid and International Roaming PROMOS, Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Cebu Pacific Airlines Airline AIRFARE DISCOUNT tickets for sale!

Check out our Updated/Latest List of GOVERNMENT JOBS AND OTHER GOVERNMENT VACANT POSITIONS, PRIVATE JOBS, PRIVATE FULL-TIME JOBS, PRIVATE PART-TIME JOBS and OTHER ONLINE JOBS in this link!

Written by Lizanilla Amarga · Filed Under Cagayan de Oro