Korean developer offers
to save trees in project

The Korean developer who is planning to build a $120-million casino-hotel in Subic yesterday said they are agreeable to change their development plan to save at least 366 trees which were in danger of being cut down because of the project.

"We could alter the development plan as long as we are allowed to pursue this project," Eric Park, manager if the Gran Utopia Corp. told the committee on bases and conversion chaired by Rep. Rep. Edwin Uy (Lakas, Isabela).

The development came amid the protest launched by architect Felino Palafox Jr. who earlier accused Sen. Richard Gordon, former Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay and other government officials of involvement in bribery and protectionism in the $120 million project.

Palafox has also accused Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) chairman Ephraim Genuino, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Board of Directors member Ricardo Coscolluela and his daughter Buhay Hayaang Yumabong party-list Rep. Ma. Carissa Coscolluela as the ones backing SBMA administrator Armand Arreza in pursuing the project.

Palafox said he steered away from the deal with Gran Utopia Inc. after he found out that the trees in the construction site at Subic ‘s central business district would be cut down.

Because of this decision, Palafox, one of the country’s most prominent architects, said he lost some $1 million (P48 million) in professional fees.

In a privilege speech last December, Coscolluela dared Palafox to "be man enough" to name the official who he claimed demanded 18 percent of the contract price in exchange for the approval of his bid for the project.

She said then that Palafox had been floating the name of one Boy Coscolluela in the extortion attempt at the office of Palafox and Associates, noting that the only Coscolluela in the SBMA board was her father.

During the hearing, Coscolluela accused Palafox of profiteering for allegedly trying to persuade Gran Utopia to relocate its project to Moonbay Marina of which he is a stockholder.

She said Subic Coastal Development Corporation (SCDC), the operator of Moonbay Marina, stands to earn no less than $40 million while the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) gets $4 million, if the project area is transferred.

Palafox denied this, saying that his shares in Moonbay were actually his professional fee for a project which he said a letter from SCDC president Marianito Fernandez can prove.

"Even if I am a shareholder in Moonbay, I am not part of the company’s operation so I am not aware whether SCDC has Gran Utopia to relocate its project to Moonbay or not."

Palafox said he was aware that his "revelations against top government officials allegedly involved in irregularities will put me in hot water.