Angeles court lifts TRO vs Clark mall project

CLARK FIELD, Pampanga — The construction of the P500-million SM mall in this special economic zone resumes today after its contractor paid under protest some P1.69 million to the Angeles City government, the Clark Development Corp. (CDC) said yesterday.

Last Friday, the Angeles City regional trial court issued an order lifting the temporary restraining order (TRO) that had halted the mall’s construction since Nov. 7.

The court issued the TRO upon the petition of Angeles City Mayor Carmelo Lazatin, who demanded that the contractor, New Golden City Builders Development Corp. (New Builders), first obtain permits from City Hall.

The TRO affected at least 1,000 construction workers. When it opens in April next year, the mall is expected to generate at least 12,000 new jobs.

Angeles City officials said the P1.69 million covered construction permit and other fees which New Builders was supposed to have paid the city government since, as they claimed, the mall is within the city’s jurisdiction.

The amount included a 100 percent surcharge due to the purported delay in the payment.

City officials, however, claimed that the P1.69 million was a mere partial payment since the mall owner, Premiere Central Inc., still owes the city government P3.3 million.

The CDC, however, said Premiere Central made the payment under protest since the 25-hectare mall site is within the Clark ecozone.

Like other Clark investors, the CDC said Premiere Central is supposed to pay only five percent of gross income earned (GIE) to the state-run firm.

Premiere Central has already paid all its dues to the CDC for the mall’s construction.

Antonio Ng, CDC president and chief executive officer, said further construction delays would derail its slated opening in April next year, coinciding with the grand opening of the mothballed Expo Pilipino theme park.

Ng said CDC lawyers are still coordinating with the Office of Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC) to seek a legal opinion on the CDC’s jurisdiction over the mall project.

Part of Premiere Central’s commitment to the project was the development of the P50-million Bayanihan Park at Clark’s main gate in Balibago, Angeles City.

The now well-lighted and world-class park used to be a lair for criminals and commercial sex workers.

Earlier, Premiere Central also reportedly turned over to the city government a huge amount for the upgrading of the drainage system in the Balibago commercial district, but it has never publicized this. — With Bebot Sison Jr.