Estrada’s market project still on after ‘tampuhan’ with Binay

After about three weeks of not talking to each other because of a disagreement over a market renovation project, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada on Friday said he and Vice President Jejomar Binay had patched things up and that the project would start in April in time for his 77th birthday.

During a birthday party for Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile Thursday night, “he (Binay) came up to me when I arrived. It was just a little misunderstanding. We’re the best of friends,” the former President told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

The disagreement stemmed from Estrada’s plan to redevelop the Manila Central Market in Sta. Cruz, which the mayor discussed with Binay at the Coconut Palace last month. Binay is also vice chair of the Home Guaranty Corp., which owns the land where the market stands.

“I was explaining to him that this is heaven-sent. You know we are bankrupt and now somebody is willing to finance the market,” he said, referring to SM Development Corp. which he said had agreed to renovate the market under a partnership with City Hall.

“Pinipilit kailangan daw merong master plan (It was insisted that there should be a master plan),” Estrada said.

“I got ticked off so I left. I told them, ‘Sorry, I still have lots of meetings,’ but actually there was none,” he recalled with a chuckle. “I said I will do it, I will start it, with or without their approval—and he can run after me.”

The Central Market project would start “in time for my birthday,” said the mayor, who turns 77 on April 19.

According to an opinion issued by city legal officer Jose Alberto Flaminiano, the Central Market, the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital and the Manila City Jail comprise the Old Bilibid Compound which the Public Estates Authority (PEA) was supposed to develop.

But when the project did not push through, HGC, as guarantor, paid the investors and gained ownership of the property, the document said.

HGC is of the opinion that the rights of Manila over the Central Market were terminated by virtue of such assignment and conveyance, it noted.

But the memorandum of agreement between PEA and the City of Manila recognizes the latter’s original usufructuary right or the right to use the property, it added.

When HGC became the lawful successor-in-interest of PEA, it stepped into the shoes of PEA and was consequently obliged to respect the usufruct, Flaminiano said.

Binay was Estrada’s running mate in the 2010 presidential elections. The longtime political allies also formed the top leadership of the opposition in the 2013 mid-term polls.

In an interview with reporters Friday, Binay said what happened between him and Estrada was similar to a mere tampuhan (mild disagreement) between siblings or close friends.

“I owe a huge debt of gratitude (utang na loob) to President Estrada. I wouldn’t be Vice President now if he didn’t take me as his running mate,” Binay said Filipino. “This (misunderstanding) won’t last long. Perhaps a little more explanation is needed.”