Manila Goldcoast Development Corp. led by the Tieng family received a notice from the Philippine Reclamation Authority to proceed with the 148-hectare Solar City Manila Manila Bay reclamation project.
Documents showed the PRA Governing Board approved Resolution No. 5265 series of 2021 and a notice to mobilize and a notice to commence actual reclamation works to MGDC and the city of Manila on Feb. 22.
The PRA said the NTM and the NTCARW were issued following the clearance from the Office of the President through Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea Jr.
The PRA received a memorandum from Medialdea on Feb. 18 indicating that the OP had no objection to the start of the project.
“This refers to your Memorandum dated Dec. 7, 2020, requesting authority from the Office of the President to issue the notice to mobilize and the notice to commence actual reclamation works for the Manila Solar City Project, as well as the confirmation of the PRA Board Resolution relative thereto,” Medialdea said in the Feb. 18, 2021 memorandum.
“Pursuant to Executive Order Nos. 543 [s. 2006] and 74 [s.2019], considering the memorandum of this office dated Feb. 1, 2019 granting clearance to proceed with the Solar City Project, and upon the representations of the PRA on the completion of the documentary requirements and concurrences of the relevant government agencies, please be informed that this Office interposes ‘no objection’ in the grant of the NTM and NTCARW for the Manila Solar City Project, subject to compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations,” Medialdea said.
“The PRA’s request for NTMs and NTCARWs relative to the Horizon Manila Reclamation Project and Manila Waterfront Reclamation shall be acted upon separately,” Medialdea said.
MGDC is part of the Solar Group of the Tieng family that is into entertainment, satellite communications and property landbanking and development.
The Solar City Manila project was proposed as early as 30 years ago as the Manila Goldcoast Reclamation Project which in 1991 secured a greenlight from then Public Estates Authority, the predecessor of the PRA, to pursue the project as the Manila-Cavite Coastal Road Reclamation-North Sector Reclamation Project.
The PRA board affirmed the “previous award of the MCCRR-North Sector Reclamation Project to Manila Goldcoast Development Corp.” on March 31, 2011.