VM wants rumors on clearance issuance disproved

CEBU, Philippines - To dispel speculations that some members of the City Council are receiving money from location clearance applications, Vice Mayor Romeo Villarante now wants to require applicants to appear before the entire council.

Villarante said the move will help eliminate "unfounded rumors" that the some council members are bribed by some applicants transacting for a Preliminary Approval and Location Clearance.

"Aron paglimpyo sa huna-huna sa ubang tawo nga kuno dunay magdawatan ilabi na kung naay reklamo kung nganong dugay na-approve ang ilang PALC," Villarante, the council presiding officer, told The FREEMAN.

Villarante said the Committee on Public Works and Infrastructures, chaired by City Councilor Socrates Fernandez, welcomes the development as it will help pave the way for transparency, especially in his committee.

Fernandez is expected to pass a resolution next week approving the PALC of a developer of a high-end project in Barangay Pooc.

Fernandez said the applicant, Bayswater-Talisay of the MSY Holdings Corp., already complied with certain concerns, among which are that the adjacent residential house requested for a road right of way and the concern for the drainage system.

Fernandez said the developers also promised to comply with housing laws.

Under Republic Act 7279 or the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992, owners and developers of subdivision projects are required to allocate 20 percent of their projects to socialized housing.

Under the following conditions, Fernandez said there will be no development activities, like earth-moving and others, to be undertaken at the site without the approval of Development Permit from the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Talisay City.

Fernandez said any valid complaint against the subdivision after due notice and hearing and non-compliance with any of the requirements in all government agencies concerned shall be sufficient cause for the revocation of the PALC.

The subdivision project sits on a 62,337-square meter property, comprising of 494 saleable lots.

"The applicant has complied with all the necessary requirements for the Preliminary Approval and Locational Clearance (PALC) application," Fernandez said.

With the approval of development permit, the company is now authorized to commence land development at the project site.

The Bayswater-Talisay is said to take up about P1 billion in investments. — Garry B. Lao (FREEMAN)