BAGUIO CITY – The local legislative body summoned representatives of several departments of the local government, concerned government agencies and the contractor of an on-going condominium project in barangay Salud Mitra to shed light on the complaint of affected residents on the violations of the developer.
The initiation to the representatives of the City Building and Architecture Office (CBAO), the City Engineering Office, the City Planning and Development Office and the condominium project was agreed upon by the local legislators for them to appear during the council’s regular session on Monday, January 22, 2018 for them to answer clarificatory questions that will be raised.
The invitation to the concerned departments and the developer was an offshoot of an oral motion of Councilor Lilia A. Fariñas upon the instruction of Vice Mayor Edison R. Bilog after having received numerous complaints from the affected residents regarding the alleged inconveniences caused by the on-going project.
The condominium project which is being implemented by a Manila-based developer is a 6-storey structure with a 4-storey basement which is considered to be an alleged violation of the city’s zoning ordinance.
The affected residents accused the developer of causing inconvenience to their peaceful situation considering the supposed noise created by the units of heavy equipment operating in the area aside from the fact that there might have been serious violations in the permits that were issued to the developer of the condominium project.
Based on available records with the City Planning and Development Office, the developer was issued the required zoning clearance for the implementation of its high rise condominium project that will be erected in a heavily densed residential area.
Bilog said that the invitation of the local legislative body is designed to allow concerned departments of the city and concerned government agencies to explain the extent of the permits granted to the developer and for the developer to address the issues and concerns being raised by concerned residents regarding the implementation of the project in their area.
He clarified that the invitation is not intended to publicly put to shame those being invited but instead find possible ways of solving problems that are of public interest to avoid possible conflicts among those living within the different barangays in the city.
According to him, local legislators are simply acting on complaints being brought to their attention by the affected sectors of the community that is why representatives of local government departments and concerned government agencies and even the complaining residents are invited to face each other during their regular sessions purposely to find solutions to their concerns for the greater interest of the people.
The vice mayor remains positive that the concerned officials and individuals being invited to answer clarificatory questions from the local legislators will understand the purpose of the invitations to them for transparency purposes.
By Dexter A. See