Friday, July 03, 2015 By JEANDIE O. GALOLO THE case hounding Torre de Manila of DMCI Homes Inc. is a reminder for both government and private sector to be mindful of proper urban planning. Boler Binamira, an official of a real estate firm in the country, said observing urban planning and zoning would have spared the turmoil that the 49-storey condominium has caused from supposedly “blocking” the visual corridors of Rizal Monument in Luneta Park. “In urban planning, government has to zone certain areas in order to have balance in preserving historical monuments and places, and also promoting developments to happen,” Binamira said in an interview. Some netizens labelled the condominium as a “photobomber,” a term used for someone who either intentionally or unintentionally ruins an otherwise normal photo. DMCI claimed it was able to get all permits to start building the project which were then issued in July 2012 after it complied with the prerequisites. However, the Manila City Council ordered the suspension of DMCI Homes’ building permit, noting that the developer violated City Ordinance 8119 that requires a specific floor-to-area ratio. For Beverly Dayanan of Contempo Holdings, developer of Bamboo Bay Community in Mandaue City, and real estate broker Anthony Leuterio of Leuterio Realty and Brokerage, the regulators in the government themselves should have denied DMCI Homes’ project if the former had initially known that it would endanger the conservation of a natural heritage site. “The developer has already invested so much for that,” Dayanan said. For Binamira, future developments in the country should not be seen as blockages to the preservation of historical sites. He said the situation in Manila is not a unique one, since other countries are also experiencing the same situation. Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on July 04, 2015. DISCLAIMER: Sun.Star website welcomes friendly debate, but comments posted on this site do not necessary reflect the views of the Sun.Star management and its affiliates. Sun.Star reserves the right to delete, reproduce or modify comments posted here without notice. Posts that are inappropriate will automatically be deleted. Forum rules: Do not use obscenity. Some words have been banned. Stick to the topic. Do not veer away from the discussion. Be coherent and respectful. Do not shout or use CAPITAL LETTERS! http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/business/2015/07/03/photobombing-condo-lesson-developers-416815