Muntinlupa denies violating Laguna Lake regulations

A Muntinlupa City official said yesterday the Laguna Lake Development Authority has no reason to file a case against Mayor Jaime Fresnedi for allegedly reclaiming land from the lake without LLDA authorization.

Ariel Dolleton, head of the city’s Lake Management Office, said the city government completed the requirements concerning construction activities along the lakeshore.

Dolleton added they would be able to meet a 15-day deadline set for them to submit the requirements for development activities along Laguna de Bay to proceed.

The city government has been engaged in land filling and construction activities in barangays Bayanan and Tunasan.

Dolleton, however explained that contrary to earlier reports, the LLDA simply issued the city government a notice to comply concerning a clearance needed for construction to take place on the lakeshore a week ago, and that the agency was not filing a case against them.

The notice was a result of an alleged violation of Republic Act 4850 for starting development in the area without a clearance or permit from the LLDA.

The LLDA has also slapped the city government with an administrative fine of P5,000 and 10-percent zonal value per square meter of the reclaimed land.

In an interview, Dolleton clarified that a case will not be filed against the city government following talks with LLDA board of directors chairman Cirio Santiago.

Santiago reportedly gave an assurance that there was no existing board resolution that called for a criminal case against the city government.

Santiago said the board had passed a resolution authorizing LLDA general manager Casimiro Ynares III to file criminal cases against businesses conducting activities along the Laguna de Bay without authorization but these did not include the Muntinlupa city government.

Ynares’ letter to Fresnedi ordered the latter to discontinue any activity in the shore land until a clearance for the land reclamation project has been issued.

Only seven private firms were reportedly filed cases after committing violations of the environmental standards set by the LLDA. The LLDA identified these seven executives as Yap Cho Seng, president of the Color Commercial Packaging Corp. in Pasig City; Ill Weon Kim, owner of Dream Sole Inc. in Cainta, Rizal; Leodevico Eustaquio, owner of Dick and Lenny’s Garments in Taytay, Rizal; Angel Estrella, medical director of Estrella Hospital in Silang Cavite; Felix Lagrana, general manager of the New Winston Lodge in Pasay City; Wilson Dy, president of the DYS Building in Sampaloc, Manila; and Anthony Dy, president of Cara and Celine Dormtel, also in Manila.

"If ever we fail to submit the requirements asked of us on the set deadline, that is the time we’ll expect the LLDA to file a case against us," Dolleton said.

He likewise denied they are constructing a solid waste disposal facility on a reclaimed area. "What the city is constructing near the shore lands are the biggest office for the city’s senior citizens, a school called Bayanan Main, a covered court and a renewal home for the city’s drug dependents. Meanwhile, in Barangay Tunasan, a modern gymnasium for the youth will be put up."

Dolleton emphasized that these were being built on government-owned land and not on land reclaimed from the lake.