Instead of getting rental reprieve during the three-month lockdown period, indignant members of the Clark Investors and Locators Association (CILA) received billings from the state-run Clark Development Corporation.
“It is insulting (CDC) did not respond to us in the past two months,” says CILA Chairman Ireneo Alvaro.
“Under Civil Service rule within 15 days dapat sumagot ang government sa isang opisyal na tanong o request. Pero we did not invoke this because its pandemic,” according to Alvaro.
“We patiently waited, pero pangatlong sulat siguro sa loob ng dalawang buwan, sana naman kahit na i recognize lang nila yung sulat, hindi billing yung sagot na pinadala sa mga locators,” said Alvaro, who operates two of the luxury hotels inside the Clark Freeport Zone – Mirodi Hotel and Mirej Hotel, which is currently under construction. Alvaro’s firm also operates Aqua Planet.
Alvaro also lashed out at CDC for referring their request for rental reprieve to the Department of Trade and Industry when it has the CDC Board of Directors to decide.
“I can not understand that also, bakit DTI, CDC is a corporation with a Board of Directors who can decide. Is CDC under DTI now?,” asked Alvaro.
“Kung sanang nag seek sila ng guidance sa Commission on Audit (COA) maiintindihan pa natin. Second, sana naman kahit due respect lang sinagot sana officially mga sulat namin sa CILA March 16 pa yung isa. Yung pangalawa buong Board ng CILA na nagpirma wala pa din makuhang official answer, instead billing yung na tanggap ng mga locators naming,” said Alvaro
“Mabuti pa ang BCDA sumagot officially sa CILA kahit pinasa nya kami uli sa CDC. Pero inspite of that di pa rin sumagot sa CILA, heto sa Facebook sumagot. Dati naman kaming naguusap, we were so cooperative naman sa CDC, pero it is insulting na after 2 months na walang official na sagot , nagpadala ng billing sa mga locators,” said Alvaro.
Ealier, Alvaro said Clark investors may retrench thousands of workers if CDC rejects its plea for a reprieve on rentals and other government fees incurred during the lockdown period.
On Friday, CILA has reiterated its appeal from the state-run Clark Development Corporation to grant them rentals reprieve amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Alvaro said that “without government support, particularly from CDC, we will hardly make it.” “It is only fair to ask for reprieve as majority were not able to operate during those 2-3 months. I hope CDC would not also expect income when its tenants do not open their shops.”
CILA sent its letter to CDC on March 16, 2020; to BCDA on May 14: and its last letter to both government agencies on June 2, 2020.
In a statement, CDC said CILA’s request for rental reprieve was referred to the Department of Trade and Industry for action, an action that hit a sour note among Clark investors.