QUEZON CITY COURT SETS PRE-TRIAL DATE

To hear motions on case to stop award of contract involving Inayawan landfill, Pond A at SRP; parties told to submit briefs three days before July 25 hearing

THE Regional Trial Court in Quezon City has set for July 25 the pre-trial of the case that seeks to stop the award of a contract involving the Inayawan Sanitary Landfill and the sale of Pond A at the South Road Properties (SRP).

The case, set for pre-trial by the RTC Branch 104, was filed by a private contractor against the Cebu City Government in a bid to stop the awarding of the contract of the closure and rehabilitation of the Inayawan Sanitary Landfill and the sale of Pond A.

Expedition Construction Corp. filed the case against the City Government for specific performance with an application for a temporary restraining order and injunction. Quezon City is the place of business of Expedition Construction.

It asked the court to stop the implementation of the contract awarded by the City Government to Full Advantage Phils. International Inc. for the landfill. It also asked the court to stop any bidding for the development of the SRP Pond A property.

Expedition Construction said it submitted on Aug. 28, 2014 an unsolicited proposal for a joint venture agreement for the SRP property and the landfill work.

After negotiations made during then mayor Michael Rama’s administration, the joint venture selection committee recommended acceptance of the unsolicited proposal. But the committee did not proceed with the competitive challenge despite follow-ups by Expedition.

It was only on Aug. 7, 2018 that Expedition Construction learned that the project on the closure and rehabilitation plan of the landfill had been awarded to another firm when the City published the award of consultancy to Full Advantage Phils. International Inc.

In its answer, City lawyers said the current administration maintained a stand that the negotiation with the previous administration was not legally binding as there was no showing that the project in the unsolicited proposal involved a new concept or technology. /