Pia revisits Manila condo controversy

MANILA, Philippines–Sen. Pia Cayetano wants the Senate to look into the ongoing construction of a condominium project in Manila which critics said would ruin the sightline of the Rizal Monument.

Cayetano, who chairs the Senate committee on education, arts and culture, said her proposal to look into the Torre de Manila project would check whether it had violated any regulation and see whether new laws are needed to allow the national government to have a say in local projects affecting heritage sites.

But she clarified that the probe was not intended to interfere in business and would only look into existing laws on culture and national heritage.

“Of course, if it has not violated any law, even if I’m not in favor of it, there’s nothing I can do. But our hearings are in aid of legislation. So maybe we need to create laws to ensure that the (national) government also has a say because it may go beyond local concerns,” she told reporters Monday.

Based on media reports, she said, “compromises” had been reached regarding the project. But even if issues had been resolved in the local level, there may still be national and heritage issues that need to be addressed, the senator added.

In mid-2012, an online campaign against the DMCI condo project was spearheaded by tour guide and cultural activist Carlos Celdran, prompting the Manila City council to launch an inquiry into the planned 49-story structure, which secured permits during the term of Mayor Alfredo Lim.

The council later concluded that the building violated the height restriction in the area but did not violate any law with regard to the Rizal Monument. In January this year, the council adopted the Manila zoning board’s recommendation to affirm all permits and licenses issued in relation to the condominium project.

Councilor DJ Bagatsing, chair of the committee on tourism who earlier authored resolutions recommending the temporary suspension of the permits, then explained that DMCI officials had “a roundtable discussion” with him and Celdran and agreed to improve the design of the facade to complement the Rizal Monument sightline.

The company also agreed to plant two rows of tall trees “to protect the view” and keep the building free of advertising materials, Bagatsing said. He also said Celdran would “vigilantly monitor” the developer’s compliance with these commitments.

Cayetano noted that there had been instances in the past when violations of laws and regulations were discovered when projects were already under way.

The fact that construction had begun was no reason not to try to uncover any irregularities, she said.

“We cannot be ruled by circumstances just because we have failed to implement our laws. So that’s what I want to look into. What are really the repercussions of this? Because before you know it, there will be so many violations. And it’s high time I think that we put a value on [our national heritage sites],” she told reporters.

The Inquirer on Tuesday contacted a DMCI spokesperson who said the company would rather not comment on this issue. Earlier in the day, DMCI president Isidro Consunji told a stockholder who raised the issue that he did not agree with Celdran’s view.–With a report from Doris C. Dumlao