September 5, 2014 Pia smells DMCI 'bad faith' in Torre de Manila issue

Petition updateDismantle Torre De Manila Jail Manila Building Officials and DMCI Consunji photobombing desecrated JoseRizal MonumentPark view and violated 2009 NHCA (RA 10066) Manila Ordinance 8119 Resolution 121, 7-storey building height limit in historical sitesSeptember 5, 2014 Pia smells DMCI 'bad faith' in Torre de Manila issue

Jam FlorDapitan, Philippines

Jul 22, 2015 — By: Ernie Reyes, InterAksyon.com September 5, 2014 4:18 PM InterAksyon.com The online news portal of TV5 MANILA, Philippines – Various sectors supported by national government agencies called for the demolition of the Torre de Manila high-rise, which is said to go against a time-honored practice in urban planning and development around historical/cultural heritage sites, such as the Rizal Monument in Luneta. In a public hearing conducted by the Senate Committee on Education, Culture and the Arts, Senator Pia Cayetano observed that the 46-storey luxury condominium was apparently constructed by DM Consunji along Taft Ave, Manila "in bad faith." Cayetano told journalists that, as the series of hearings continues, she is more and more convinced about the doubtful way in which the construction of Torre de Manila proceeded, after DMCI was granted the zoning permit for only a 7-storey condominium in 2012, yet pushed on to construct additional floors based on a new, revised permit given by City of Manila in 2014. "From June 2012 to January 2014, DMCI was in bad faith. So, to me, the law is very clear, if you are in bad faith, you may answer for the damage, whatever cost you incurred, and whatever further damage to the environment and other persons," Cayetano pointed during the hearing on Thursday. Demolition With this, Cayetano urged the groups protesting the construction of Torre de Manila to get together and explore their options, which could include demolition of the project. The prospective demolition was supported by the National Parks Development Committee (NPDC), National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts (NCCA), and the Knights of Rizal. "I told them the Solicitor General is the office that protects the interest of the government, so I suggested that they talk to the Solicitor General," Cayetano said. Elizabeth Espino, NPDC Executive Director, said in an interview with InterAksyon.com that the consensus among various groups favored demolition. Torre de Manila stands at approximately 12 degrees to the right of Rizal Monument when viewed from the dead center, but has the potential to overtop the monument's sightline from the front, especially when it reaches the full height in excess of 40 storeys, Espino told the committee. "The impact on the sightline at Rizal Monument is a flawed clear visual axis, which is an honored principle in urban planning and development around national monuments and treasures," Espino explained. Espino also said that the idea to plant tall trees at the back of the monument was rejected because it violated the masterplan for Rizal Park. Legislation needed Meanwhile, NHCP chairman Maria Serena I. Diokno urged Congress to immediately pass a law that will categorically prohibit the construction of tall buildings in areas identified as natural cultural and heritage sites. "Even as we wish to uphold the vista, however, there would still have to be a zone area. Otherwise, we would have to legislate categorically that no tall buildings are ever and forever allowed in identified areas. At the moment, obviously, no such law exists," Diokno told the committee. She also suggested a move to amend the National Building Code because it does not prescribe any height limit for buildings, leaving the decision entirely to local government units, and also to introduce innovators into codes such as development transfer rights that could address the concern with height limits. "The Code, local zoning laws and land use plans have to be made consistent with heritage laws," Diokno said. She said that Congress should also review the Heritage Law in terms of its weaknesses from the point of view of enforceability, failure to appreciate the differences among art forms (the law applies a one-size-fits-all approach), government jurisdiction over privately owned structures and art works, LGU decisions with regard to local public places as plazas, among others. http://www.interaksyon.com/article/94780/pia-smells-dmci-bad-faith-in-torre-de-manila-issue

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