The city government here, through its public-private partnership office (PPPO), is evaluating the proposed PHP18.27-billion Iloilo Global City project.

The unsolicited proposal of the Iloilo Global City Corporation (IGCC) is among the projects in the pipeline published by the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center.

PPPO head, lawyer David Abraham Garcia, identified the proponent as the Cebu Landmasters, Inc. (CLI) which has an extensive background in reclamation.

IGCC is an associate of property developer CLI.

“They sent an unsolicited proposal for 662 hectares of reclamation project,” he said in an interview on Tuesday.

Garcia said that based on the proposal, 51 percent of the total reclaimed area will be owned by the government, and the rest will go to the proponent.

“The government will not spend any money for that. There will be two sites –the city site from Fort San Pedro (City Proper) all the way to Villa (Arevalo), and then there is what they call coastal site somewhere in (Barangay) Bito-on,” he added.

Garcia said the project is not attached to the landmass of the city but is an island type.

In the design, the proponent is planning to put residential, commercial, and industrial areas.

The proposal is currently under detailed evaluation, which they target to complete by June. When found beneficial to the city, they will proceed to the negotiation phase.

They have also sent invitations to government agencies to secure their sentiments and determine requirements for the project to push through.

It will also pass the local development council and considering its size, the project has to be approved by the National Economic and Development Authority.

Currently, Garcia said Iloilo City needs more space.

“This is one way probably to help develop the city to add areas. For ordinary citizens, if this is properly planned and implemented, this will also benefit them,” he said. (PNA)