BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved a resolution inviting the management of the SunTrust Properties, Inc., the officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways–Baguio City District Engineering Office (DPWH-BCDEO), barangay officials of Gibraltar and Mines View, the management of Tower Condominiums and the sisters of the Good Shepherd Convent, and the contractor of the on-going construction to appear before the local legislative body on May 22, 2017, to shed light on the complaint of residents regarding the damages and inconveniences allegedly caused by the current development works within the SunTrust property.
The resolution authored by Councilors Leandro Yangot, Jr., Faustino A. Olowan, Arthur Allad-iw, and Edgar M. Avila stated in the observance of due process, the local legislative body needs to listen to the side of the developer and the complainants relative to the alleged collapse of the national road and the erosion of portions of some private property damaging surrounding private and public properties and caused inconvenience to the public, to ferret out the truth and guide the local government in concretely solving and taking action as well as applicable policies in aid of legislation regulating construction works that affect the public.
The resolution added on several occasions, the construction of a high-end condominium at Gibraltar reportedly owned by the Suntrust Properties, Inc. had been the subject of numerous complaints by residents claiming that the development in their place caused the collapse of the national road and the exposure of a sewage pipe posing danger to the lives and health of motorists and residents and the neighbouring properties as well.
Earlier, affected residents in the area alleged that half of the road near the construction site reportedly collapsed, including the sidewalk, forcing pedestrians to walk on the road exposing them to possible accidents.
With the advent of the rainy season, the concerned legislators need to assess the extent of the damage and the inconvenience caused and determine if it is related to the on-going Suntrust Properties project.
It will be recalled that the road pavement near the project site of the controversial company collapsed last year during heavy rains and the condominium project was severely criticised for the damage it caused to various public and private properties and the inconvenience it caused to the public.
The resolution also directed the developer to cease and desist from pursuing its project in the area until such time that all issues and concerns related to the safety of the general public shall have been satisfactorily addressed by Suntrust Properties, Inc.
DPWH-BCDEO officials were also invited to shed light on road-right-of-way issues and to pinpoint violations that Suntrust may have committed and the penalties that it may be imposed.
By Dexter A. See
