Makati dads snub Forbes Park tour

Members of media were recently treated to a tour of Forbes Park to show that no commercial activities were taking place inside the village and that it is the only place in the metropolis outside of Luneta in Manila that has extensive greenery.

Official embassy residences were pointed out. At the moment there are 33 embassies in Forbes Park. Some legations will be affected once a widening of McKinley Road is undertaken to give way to commercialization. They are those of the United States of America, Royal Kingdom of Thailand, Republic of South Korea and the Sultanate of Brunei. Under the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations of countries, such missions are beyond Philippine jurisdiction.

An invitation to join the tour was extended twice to the Makati City Council by association president Atty. Policarpio Ascalon but none of the 18 city dads showed up.

Earlier this month, Councilor Ricardo Javier, chairman on the committee on Urban Development and Councilor Oscar Ibay, chairman of the Committee on Rules sent a letter to the association alleging that they received information that some of the villagers have engaged in commercial and other business activities, renting out residences and having more than one house in a single lot.

Both councilors were the sponsors of an ordinance calling for the commercialization of McKinley Road, changing it from an R-1 to a C-1.

In the media tour conducted by FPA's corporate counsel, Atty. Sylvia Lopez-Alejandro and other association officials, clarifications and answers were made as to the accusations in the councilors' letter.

First, according to zoning regulations, the leasing of certain houses in Forbes Park does not automatically convert these houses from residential to commercial. Second, the presence of more than one building in a lot, as some home owners want a guesthouse or a garage separate from the main house, does not make the house and lot commercial. Third, the sale of food items such as puto and other kakanin in certain houses, even if found true, also does not negate the residential use of these houses. They are more the products of hobbyists and not conducted on a commercial basis. And lastly, the use of certain homes as business addresses like that of physicians, surgeons, dentists, architects, engineers, lawyers and other professionals are permitted in the 1981 Zoning Ordinance.

Barangay Captain Jose Concepcion and FPA president Policarpo Ascalon both stressed that no one in Forbes Park is against progress. But progress must be tempered with common sense so as not to destroy the environment, cause pollution and add to the heavy traffic now plaguing the area.

More than two thirds of the residents in three referendums have rejected the commercialization of McKinley Road which will just benefit twenty homeowners only and not the rest of the community.