The government remains keen on selling the Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) property in Taguig within the year.

John Philip Sevilla, Finance undersecretary for privatization and the Corporate Affairs Group, told reporters the Aquino administration was looking at an “outright sale.”

“The P13-billion floor price remains the same as of this time,” Sevilla said.

The Arroyo administration tried to sell the property, too, at the same price but there were no bidders.

There are reports that big property developers Ayala Land Inc., SM Group, Robinsons Land Corp., Megaworld Corp. and Filinvest Land Inc. have all “formally” expressed interest in the property but nothing concrete has been made so far.

Sevilla clarified that FTI’s privatization plan has not been put on hold, contrary to reports, but was just delayed since the Aquino administration has been preoccupied with its Public-Private Partnership Program.

The Aquino administration said it was privatizing FTI to boost the country’s economic activity.

“In terms of raising revenues, the privatization of FTI is not urgent, but in terms of boosting the economy, yes, it is important that it is privatized this year. About 75 percent of the property is currently idle…somebody else could be investing there,” Sevilla said.