Firm faces possible contempt for "failure" to provide water

CEBU, Philippines – The City Lights Gardens Condominium Corporation is asking the court to issue a show-cause order against Singaporean-owned property developer Syntech Properties Inc. for the latter to explain why it should not be cited in contempt of court.

In a statement to The FREEMAN, City Lights Gardens Condominium Corporation legal counsel Deolito Alvarez said Syntech allegedly failed to fulfill the agreement it entered into with Condo Corporation, the group of unit owners of Towers 1 and 2 in Nivel Hills, for Syntech to provide potable water to the residents.

Under the agreement, Syntech would supply potable water to Tower 1 and 2 starting June 1, 2009 at a maximum of 150 cubic meters a day.

However, from June 1, 2009 up to the present, Syntech still allegedly failed to do so “to the continued prejudice of petitioner and the residents of Towers 1 and 2.”

“The continued failure and refusal of respondents to comply with an undertaking which they themselves made in open court signify not only a willful disregard or disobedience of this Honorable court’s order but such conduct tends to bring the authority of this Honorable court and the administration of the law into disrepute or in some manner to impede the due administration of justice,” the manifestation reads.

The agreement between parties was confirmed by the Court in an order dated May 26, 2009.

The legal conflict at the development site stemmed from a seeming disagreement on the use of common areas of the facility where the administration office of the condominium corporation is located.

The cases are pending before Branch 6 of the Regional Trial Court.

The construction of City Lights Garden’s phase 1 (Towers 1 and 2) started in 1997 and was completed in 2000 despite the financial crunch. A total of 144 units in phase 1 have been sold out.

However, since Towers 4 and 5 are still undergoing construction to complete the entire development, Syntech spokesperson Danny Rodis said renovation of the common facilities of the development should be pursued.

Rodis said the problem “has been already solved,” considering that starting June 1, 2009, occupants of Towers 3 and 4 have enjoyed water from the Central Tank of the development.

Rodis said a comprehensive report from plumbing services commissioned by Syntech for the re-piping of the entire project showed that there has been alteration of technical wiring to make it appear that Towers 1 and 2 had been deprived of water supply. — Ehda Dagooc/JMO (THE FREEMAN)