CA affirms mediation order on Smokey Mountain row

The Court of Appeals CA has affirmed its order for the parties in ol ed in the dispute o er the P - billion Smokey ountain e elopment and ehabilitation Project S P to settle their case through mediation.

In a two- page order released last week, the CA’s ninth di ision again directed the ational Housing Authority, state-run Home uaranty Corp. H C and pri ate de eloper -II Builders to resol e outstanding payments for the long-o erdue Smokey ountain Asset Pool in mediation proceedings.

The order was in reply to a motion for reconsideration by H C of the SC’s ctober ruling. The CA referred the case anew to the Philippine ediation Center.

The latest ruling was signed by ustices ose eyes r., ario ope and Socorro Inting.

- II Builders and HA signed a contract for the de elopment of Smokey ountain in , with H C as go ernment guarantor of the project’s fi nancial component.

-II claimed H C reneged on its duty while H C said the firm did not comply with the agreement. After the ue on City regional trial court dismissed - II’s complaint, the de eloper ele ated the case to the CA.

The CA’s latest resolution came after the House of epresentati es committee on housing directed the H C to settle with the HA, whose obligation has ballooned to o er P . billion due to H C’s refusal to settle for the past years.

eacting to the new CA ruling, - II e ecuti e ice president erome Canlas said the firm is ready to sit down and talk with offi cials from the two go ernment agencies.

ach day of delay costs the go ernment P , in interest costs. This should be pursued in earnest for the sake of the ilipino people, he said.