Mile Long tenants have option to stay, but rates to go up, DOF chief says

August 22, 2017

Tenants of government-owned Mile Long property in Makati City could stay but they have to pay higher rates, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said on Tuesday.

Dominguez said the government will send letters to the 240 tenants of Mile Long of its new offer.

"We're writing the tenants to say 'if you wanna stay, please know that we are going to charge more because it's (currently) very cheap'," he said.

The government has ousted Sunvar Realty Development Corporation, owned by the Rufino-Prieto family, also publisher of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, as the subcontractor of Mile Long.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier said Sunvar continued to occupy Mile Long property even if the contract of lease expired.

He has accused Sunvar of not paying government taxes, while collecting from its tenants.

A regional trial court in Makati City ordered Sunvar to vacate Mile Long on August 15.

Dominguez said the government will subcontract the management of Mile Long. Celerina Monte/DMS