MGB asks developers: Comply with requirements

CEBU, Philippines - The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-7 is now conducting an inventory of various infrastructure projects especially those who are developing high-rise buildings.

The agency is making sure that companies comply with the Engineering Geological and Geohazard Assessment Report (EGGAR) in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) System.

Al Emil Birador, the chief of MGB region 7, also reminded the land developers to ensure that recommendations in the EGGAR are properly implemented and complied with during the construction phase.

“Don’t take this for granted and take our recommendations seriously. Ang uban man gud developers, mo-diretso lang og implement sa ilang mga projects and not knowing that they will lose millions because they disregarded the recommendations from the geohazards,” Birador told reporters during the weekly AGIO forum yesterday morning. (Developers often go ahead with their projects, disregarding our recommendations not knowing they will end up losing money.)

DAO 2000-28 sets the implementing guidelines on engineering geological and geohazard assessment as additional requirement for Environmental Compliance Certificate applications covering subdivisions, housing, and other land development and infrastructure projects.

Birador stressed that EGGAR shall be considered a basic requirement especially for development projects.

The Philippines is naturally prone to various geologic and natural hazards like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and major mass movements because of its geographic, geologic and tectonic setting. 

Birador cited as example the recent collapse of an estimated eight-meter high concrete riprap for the construction of Horizon 101, a high rise condominium unit by the Taft Property Venture Development Corporation along General Maxilom Avenue. According to him, it did not comply with some of their recommendations.

Birador said that they have given a recommendation report to comply last year but until the present date, they received no communication. Part of their recommendation, he said, is to check the soil profile of the area as they were given a warning from MGB that there will be a possibility that the wall collapse.

The Horizons 101, which will be built on General Maxilom Ave., will have two towers and is the company’s first venture in high-rise development. Tower 1 will have 868 units while the 46-storey Tower 2 will have 600 units.

“Apparently, wala sila maka-comply sa among gihatag nga recommendation kay wala man gyud mi nadawat nga report gikan nila,” Birador added. However, Birador said that the might possibility that the wall collapsed because of faulty design or the faulty implementation of the engineering structure. –(FREEMAN)