City Lights residents want Syntech's license revoked

CEBU, Philippines – The 140 condominium unit owners of City Lights Gardens (towers 1 and 2) threatened to file a revocation of license to sell against the developer, Syntech Properties Incorporated.

Condominium unit owners through City Lights Gardens Condominium Corporation spokesperson Deolito Alvarez announced that it will file a revocation of license to sell against the Singapore-based developer on the grounds of unhealthy business ethics.

“It is sad that the buyers/dwellers of the two towers are now deprived of the basic amenities like water, use of administrative building now that they have already sold the units,” said Alvarez.

Unit owners in Towers 1 and 2 and the property developer had an agreement that Syntech will provide potable water to the Condo Corporation. However, for several months now, the condo occupants have been deprived of water, which resulted to the conflict.

The agreement, between the parties, was confirmed by the Court in an Order dated May 26, 2009.

In the agreement, Syntech, a Singaporean-owned developer, would supply potable water to Towers 1 and 2 starting June 1, 2009 at a maximum of 150 cubic meters a day. Up to this day, Alvarez claimed that condominium dwellers and owners in the first two units are not yet supplied with potable water.

“This is an issue of business ethics,” Alvarez said adding that this move is backed-up by the certification from the National Water Resources Board (NWRC) that Syntech Properties was issued Conditional Water Permit on February 2009 intended only to cater water requirements of Tower 1 and 2.

Unit owners claimed that Syntech is utilizing the central water tank to provide water supply for the newly opened Towers 3 and 4.

The legal conflict stemmed from a seeming disagreement on the use of the common areas of the facility where the administration office of the Condominium Corporation is located.

The cases are pending before the Regional Trial Court, branch six.

The construction of the City Lights Garden’s phase 1(Towers 1 and 2) started in 1997 and was completed in the year 2000 despite the Asian financial crunch. Now, a total of 144 units in Phase 1 were sold out.

Located in the Nivel Hills area, the project is banking on its panoramic views of Metro Cebu, the Mactan Bay area and the South China sea, as well as part of the Busay mountains for all its apartment units.        

Alvarez said unit owners of the first two are only asserting their rights for basic necessities and use of common facilities in the entire development, otherwise the move to file for the revocation of the license to sell will be formally pursued in the next few weeks.

Syntech, on the other hand claimed that the re-piping of the entire project, showed that there has been alterations done on the technical wiring to make it appear that Towers 1 and 2, had been deprived of the water supply. — Ehda M. Dagooc