Horizon assures submission of drainage, traffic plans

CEBU, Philippines - The developer of a condominium project soon to rise along General Maxilom Avenue assured the Cebu City Council yesterday that they will address all the concerns of the residents surrounding their property especially the concern of a possible flooding in the area once actual construction starts.

Taft Property Venture Development Corporation (TPVDC) told the council yesterday that they will be diverting the natural drainage that traverses their property and will make sure to construct a bigger drainage in the area.

There exists a natural drainage, a creek, in the site that will be diverted to an area outside the actual construction area. TPVDC assured that it will be connected to the main drainage line outside the property to make sure that the natural flow of water will not be altered.

Residents and Cogon-Ramos Barangay Captain Omar Durano Sr. posed no objection to the plan of the developer to construct a drainage system in the area. They just wanted to be assured that the development will not cause flooding and other problems.

The city council asked the TPVDC to submit their drainage plan and traffic plan for the council’s review and information.

During the executive session yesterday, the council also asked TPVDC the status of the remedial measures they are conducting to correct the recently collapsed retaining wall of the project site.

The project is in the excavation stage. Recently, a portion of the retaining wall collapsed due to a water build up in the soil.

Lawyer Vincent Tomaneng, TPVDC spokesperson, clarified that the retaining wall is just a temporary soil protection while they are doing the excavation works. He said that it will be replaced by a permanent protection wall once the actual construction of the building starts.

TPVDC admitted that the top portion of the soil is soft but 10 meters from the surface and downwards is already a stable stratum.

“The bottom is stable and the building will be put in the hard strata,” TPVDC representative said.

TPVDC said that the contractor for the excavations works could have miscalculated and omitted the possibility of occasional rains even during summer that could cause a water build-up in the soil. It added that the retaining wall they are constructing now will be three-time thicker and stronger now.

Tomaneng said that TPVDC has hired the best structural engineer in the country and in the process of hiring the best contractor in the country for this project. He also clarified that the contractor for the excavation works will not be the contractor for the actual construction.

The initially 15-meter hazardous zone around the project site has been reduced to 10 meters. From the original 29 houses affected, the number is down to 15 houses.

Retired General Victor Garcia, Security Officer of TPVDC, said that they continue to provide financial assistance, food and water assistance, among others, to the residents affected. Some of them are still staying at the pension houses while others opted to live temporarily with their relatives.

The residents who attended the executive session yesterday said that TPVDC is closely attending to their needs.

Tomaneng said that the management will discuss compensation for moral damages to the residents. TPVDC also assured that it will do its best to avoid repetition of the incident.

Tomaneng said that they are on the 14th Day of the 60-day restoration program. The cease and desist order remains until the developer completes the remedial works. – (FREEMAN)