Over tragedy that killed boy: Developer, others summoned to conference

CEBU, Philippines - The developer of a housing project in Barangay Tawason, Mandaue City was summoned to a conference on Monday to tackle remedies and possible sanctions following a tragic incident last week that killed a 13-year-old boy.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 also summoned Tawason barangay captain Jesus Arcilla Jr., AIDFAZ Development Corporation president Teresa Vasquez, marketing officer Dive Mendoza, and the affected residents.

The respondents were advised to bring written explanations during the scheduled conference at the DENR-EMB-7 Office in Banilad, Cebu City at 2 to 3 in the afternoon.

AIDFAZ is the developer of the 1.4-hectare subdivision whose riprap, 35 meters in length and at least four meters in height, collapsed on a boarding house, leaving Vicente Cariquitan Jr. trapped under rubble.

Construction of the riprap started in February and has yet to be finished when it collapsed.

Based on the DENR’s Compliance Evaluation Report, the developer failed to comply with four out of 17 conditions of the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).

The violations are ECC Condition No. 2 or the failure to implement all recommended mitigating enhancement measures as stated on the Environmental Impact and Management Plan; ECC Condition No.3, failure to establish a nur-sery program for seedling production of 3,500 in support of Green Philippines Master Plan; ECC Condition No. 6, failure to submit Project Environmental Risk Categorization; and ECC Condition No. 12, failure to establish an Environmental Unit to submit semi-annually ECC Compliance Report.

Violation of ECC or failure to have an ECC stipulates a fine of P50,000.

Engineer William Cuñado, officer-in-charge regional director of DENR, warned those summoned to appear before the conference to avoid penalties.

“Failure to attend the technical conference would warrant an upgraded penalty of P25,000 each for condition Nos. 2,3 and 12 pursuant to Table 2-3 on the Schedule of Penalty Reduction in case of Violation of ECC Conditions of the same law,” read the notice. —/NSA (FREEMAN)