DEAL or no deal?

“No deal!” would be the likely response of the incoming Dagupan City administration of Mayor-elect Alipio Fernandez Jr. to the tourism-commercial complex currently being developed by MetroState Realty Corporation at the former Magaysay Park in front of the City Hall.

This was indicated by outgoing Vice Mayor Alvin Fernandez, son of the incoming mayor, who was tapped by his father to help set up an action plan for the initial stage of his administration.

The vice mayor, however, said the new administration will have to decide soon on what action to take on the controversial project which is being constructed without letup and without a building permit from the city government.

Interviewed shortly after the 109th Philippine Independence Day celebration on Tuesday, the younger Fernandez expressed his apparent bitterness over the Lim administration’s disregard for the laws allowing MetroState to start its project without first securing the proper documents.

Fernandez has been insisting on re-bidding the build-operate-transfer (BOT) project owing to irregularities that attended the bidding.

MetroState’s principal stockholders, cousins Mark and Alex Siapno, competed in the bidding with another company owned by their close relative, a situation that is not allowed under the country’s BOT law.

On MetroState’ lack of building permit, Fernandez said the company must be compelled to observe the rule of law like any citizen of the country.

“The requirements being imposed on private citizens and developers must be imposed equally on everyone,” said the outgoing vice mayor.

Fernandez also pointed out that MetroState began its project only a few days before the election ban without a building permit from City Engineer Virginia Rosario.

Meanwhile, Rosario, the deputized building official of Dagupan, has stood her ground not to issue a building permit until MetroState submits a copy of the resolution passed by the city council authorizing Mayor Benjamin Lim to enter into a contract with the company, even after being threatened with suspension by outgoing Mayor Benjamin Lim.

However, Rosario is also under fire for her failure to assert her authority to stop the construction activities.

In an obvious defense of Rosario, Fernandez asked, “Sino po ba ang nagpapa-construct, nagpipilit na ibigay lahat ang kaukulang permit without any compliance with the requirements?” clearly referring to Lim.

A copy of the contract has yet to be submitted to the city council.

The supposed contract of the city government with MetroState is good for 25 years, stipulating P1 million a month lease, an amount considered too low for the prime location and property.—LM

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