Mayor keeping hands off Ciudad project

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama will no longer be interfering in the proposed Ciudad project in Barangay Apas as it is now in the hands of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Rama said that DENR should practice its mandate in implementing and approving projects that do not damage the environment.  

Recently, DENR returned the application of the Fifth Avenue Property Development Corp. for an environmental compliance certificate which is a prerequisite for them to be issued an excavation permit by City Hall.

DENR stated that the application lacks the environmental impact study and needs a more thorough project plan.

Jonjie Gonzales, media consultant of the Fifth Avenue, said that they are aiming to submit the additional requirements by this week. According to Rama, he will observe the rule of the law and will not be interfering in the affairs of DENR and the developer.

The P1.2-billion project in a 2.8-hectare land Barangay Apas is the provincial government’s project. Rama previously expressed his support for the said project that will be featuring the Cebuano heritage in its facilities.

Cebu City South District Rep. Tomas Osmeña as well as Vice Mayor Augustus Young are against the project due to potential environmental, traffic and employment damage in the area.

However, Fifth Avenue Development Corp. showed in a video presentation their plan to open four roads that can solve the reported traffic concern that the project brings and will even decongest the recent traffic issue that the area is facing.

The developers have also assured that there will be no damage to the environment since no big trees will be cut and the small ones will be transferred to a designated area, which is one of the features of the project.

DENR has also pointed this out to the developers during the recent public hearing in Barangay Apas.

William Cuñado, chief of the Environmental Impact Assessment office of DENR told the developers that the plan on the trees should be clear on the site development plan that should be submitted to them. (FREEMAN)