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DMCI Holdings dominated business headlines the past months, but not in a positive light.
The company was declared “persona non grata” in Romblon for opposing an energy contract awarded to another bidder.
Lawmakers have also called for an inquiry into the plan of DMCI to construct a coal-fired power plant in Palawan.
Maynilad, owned by DMCI and Metro Pacific, filed an arbitration case against the government over a compensation issue.
There is also the controversial Torre de Manila and the Semirara mining incident.
DMCI chairman and president Isidro Consunji believes that someone, or some company, is out to destroy DMCI.
He has some clues, Consunji said, but he won’t say who, just yet.
“I think it’s an undeserved thing, we have some idea it’s being orchestrated. I don’t think it’s a spontaneous issue,” he said.
Consunji is now firing back at critics, particularly on the Torre de Manila issue.
He said even the Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan has so many high rise buildings nearby, and even Paris is now allowing the construction of tall buildings near the Eiffel Tower.
Consunji asserts that the Torre de Manila project violated no laws.
If the court orders its demolition, Consunji said, he will seek just compensation.
“We’re confident that our legal position is valid. We believe that we can present out case properly to Supreme Court. If we’re ordered to demolish, there should be just compensation,” he said.
Consuniji, meanwhile, said they are now doing a total review of safety measures in all its mines following the Semirara mining incident, which killed nine workers.
They also gave P1 million each to families of the victims plus other benefits.
Consunji revealed that despite the incident, they will continue to develop other nearby mines in Semirara, and build 1,100 megawatt coal-fired power facilities in the next three to four years.
“It’s the biggest contributor in our revenue and income, so we hope the issue of this incident will be resolved soon,” he said.
DMCI Holdings recorded a 43 percent drop in its consolidated net income in 2014, but profits jumped 18 percent in the first quarter this year.
Text: Jekki Pascual, ANC
Photo: ABS-CBNnews.com
This article has been re-published with permission from ABS-CBNnews.com.
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