No earth-moving work, drainage plan promised

The developer of Monterrazas yesterday assured representatives of two subdivisions it would stop earth-moving activities until flood mitigating measures are undertaken by Sept. 15.

Lawyer Dindo Perez, managing director of Genvi Development Corp., also presented a plan for a parallel drainage that would manage the catchment area below the Monterrazas property in the hills of Guadalupe.

Perez represented the Monterrazas developer in yesterday’s technical conference with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environment Management Bureau, which had issued the project a notice of violation.

The Genvi representative signed a commitment to stop earth-moving activities except for desilting activities in the area.

The developer also agreed to comply with flood mitigating measures by Sept. 15. These include desilting of the water catchment and the completion of two water retention ponds in the area.

Environment Management Bureau Chief Allan Arranguez, who presided over the meeting, said the area would be inspected again to see if these steps are carried out.

If these are not complied with, the DENR could suspend or revoke the project’s Environmental Compliance Certificate.

During the meeting, Perez also presented a plan for parallel drainage as a long-term solution to flooding.

The plan was Genvi’s answer to complaints of the representatives of two subdivisions below Monterrazas – Grand Legacy and Buena Hills Subdivision.

Court of Appeals Executive Judge Portia Alino Hormachuelas, who first complained about the flooding incident, said she was worried about the Bethany Christian School, as students would have to wade in the floodwaters.

The school, which is located in the Grand Legacy Subdivision, is near the water catchment area developed by Genvi.

“The wall of the school has become part of the dam,” she said during the conference.

Eliza Saavedra of Bethany Christian School said the runoff water from the uplands occupied by Monterrazas might also affect the school’s foundation, which might collapse.

Joe Barba, a Grand Legacy resident, said 15 minutes of rain would cause a flash flood, sending soil and rocks down their roads.

“We are begging them to stop the development,” Barba said during the conference.

He said the capacity of the drainage system of the village wasn’t enough to accommodate the runoff water from the Monterrazas’ project.

Perez of Genvi said the parallel drainage system would manage the catchment area below their developed property.

However, he said the drainage plan would only accommodate the runoff property from Monterrazas and not from the two subdivisions.

Perez said he could only give a timeline to execute it after the Sept. 15 inspection.

Meanwhile, in Mandaue City, a mango tree fell and destroyed a house in barangay Tabok, Mandaue City, displacing seven boarders.

No one was hurt in the accident which took place past 7 p.m. Property damage was estimated to be at least P20,000.

Residents said the continuous rains may have loosened the soil where the mango tree stood. Barangay officials distributed food and blankets, and began inspecting other trees in the barangay that need to be pruned or cut down.  With a report from Correspondent Norman Mendoza