City to meet with high-rise building developers

CEBU, Philippines - Following the recent collapse of a retaining wall of the ongoing construction of the Horizons 101 in Barangay Cogon-Ramos, the Cebu City Council has decided to hold a public hearing with all high-rise building contractors on May 9.

The City Council also approved the suggestion of Councilor Noel Eleuterio Wenceslao to invite the heads of the Office of the Building Officials, Department of Engineering and Public Works, the officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and other stakeholders to discuss the issues and impacts of blossoming condominium projects.

Since the increase in the number of high-rise buildings in Cebu City will also affect traffic, the city legislators suggested City Traffic Operations Management also attend the public hearing.

The incident in Horizons 101 happened two weeks ago when its retaining wall collapsed, although the contractor quickly restored the destroyed concrete wall without damaging nearby houses.

“With the sprouting of condominiums and high-rise buildings in the city, the City Council has seen the need to evaluate, investigate and assess the impact and effect of these developments towards public safety in the terms of construction, traffic assessment, soil stability and other environmental impacts,” Wenceslao said.

The collapse that happened to the retaining wall of Horizons 101 of Taft Property Venture Development Corp., touted as Cebu City’s tallest residential condominium project, may also happen in other construction projects if the city will not make precautionary measures, the city legislators said.

Horizons 101 along General Maxilom Ave. will have two towers. Tower 1 will have 868 units while the 46-storey Tower 2 will have 600 units.  (FREEMAN)