Rama not lifting Monterrazas suspension just yet

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said he cannot lift the suspension of the development project of Monterrazas de Cebu in Barangay Guadalupe without consulting first with the Local Risk Reduction and Management Council.

The City Planning and Development Office has recommended for the lifting of the suspension imposed by the mayor last year against the developer, Genvi Development Corporation, after all the conditions set by the city government have been complied with.

But Rama said he wants to meet with Alvin Santillana, executive officer of the Local Risk Reduction and Management Council, first and the city planning officer Alipio Bacalso to find out the real situation.

The development project was suspended after several houses in Barangays Guadalupe and Labangon were flooded during a heavy downpour.

The Monterrazas de Cebu project was blamed for the flooding prompting the suspension of the development permit.

"Dili kita magdali-dali kay siguroon nato kon nasulbad na ba gayud ang problema. (Let us not act with haste because we need to make sure that the problem is really solved)," Rama told the reporters.

Augusto Villalon, president of Genvi Development Corporation, recently toured the members of the media at his project site for them to personally witness their compliance to the City Hall's conditions.

The developer has installed webbed mats made of coconut fibers and planted with grasses to help prevent soil erosion. They have also constructed more than 10 dikes to control the rain water from going down into the residential areas. (FREEMAN)