Councilors seek to regulate backfilling

CEBU, Philippines - To control backfilling activities which are feared to cause "untoward incidents," the Talisay City council approved Tuesday on first reading a proposed ordinance regulating it.

Proponent Councilor Rodi Cabigas, chairman on council committee on infrastructure, said the council has noticed that back-filling has resurfaced especially in the supposed economic zone at the Cebu South Coastal Road area hence they are coming up with such a measure regulating it.

"It has been observed in many instances by the City Zoning Task Force that wanton and indiscriminate backfilling activities have become rampant within the Special Local Economic Zone and in the entire locality of the City of Talisay as well, which are made without proper regulation," read the resolution supporting the proposed ordinance.

Cabigas said the Special Local Economic Zone Board sees the need to ascertain that any backfilling or earthmoving activities should be controlled and regulated for future development in the City and so as "to prevent any problems that may arise in the near future."

He said developers, once given a permit by the city hall, are only allowed to dump filling materials "at the maximum volume as prescribed in the conditions in applying for a Development Permit" and that the backfilling permit is only applied to those lot owners who dump any debris or soil without any plans for development.

The councilor said the city is only foreseeing the possible "precautions of excessive dumping" of backfilling, which is feared to cause flood in neighboring areas, as this may block the natural passageways of rainwater, among other adverse effects.

It is stated in the proposed ordinance that a backfilling permit is pre-requisite for any Locational Clearance and /or Development Permit.

Under the proposed ordinance, penalties will be slapped on violators.

The proposal has been referred to the committee on Laws for further study. (FREEMAN)