MANILA - Three Japanese real estate groups have submitted pre-qualification documents for the lease and development contract of the government's Fujimi property in Tokyo, an official said.

Finance Undersecretary Estela Sales said the Fujimi property is scheduled to be bid out on December 3. The government is hoping to sell the 4,361-square meter lot for at least P3 billion.

Sales said the government would push through with the lease despite opposition from cultural workers and Filipino and Japanese artists. "If we are restrained by appropriate authorities, we will have to stop it. But there are no such restraints," she said.

The Save Fujimi Property International Network has been staging protests in front of the lot, which is currently used as the residence of the Philippine Ambassador to Japan. The group opposed the commercialization of the property, saying that it has significant cultural and historic value.

Some Filipinos who are against the sale of the Fujimi property include national artist Bienvenido Lumbera, University of the Philippines (UP) Dean Roland Tolentino, and UP Professor Judy Taguiwalo.

The government earlier announced through newspaper advertisements that the bidding for the Fujimi property will take place on November 16. Sales said, however, that the bidding did not push through since the government wanted to attract more bidders.

But according to Finance Undersecretary Crisanta Legaspi, the bidding date was originally set on December 3.