Forbes Park folks oppose zoning plan

Residents of the posh subdivisions in Makati City came in full force during a public hearing on the proposed rezoning of the city yesterday to air their opposition to the plan.

Prominent Makati residents, particularly those living at Forbes Park Subdivision, expressed their concerns on the rezoning plan and complained that they were not consulted on the matter.

Jaime Zobel de Ayala, chairman of Ayala Corp., said he was disappointed by the fact that the Makati government did not consult residents while the rezoning plan was being drafted.

"The proposed haphazard commercialization of the fringes of these subdivisions will unequivocally begin the destruction of these areas," Ayala said.

Forbes Park barangay captain Jose Concepcion said they submitted a letter to Mayor Elenita Binay seeking reconsideration of the rezoning of McKinley Road from residential to commercial area.

Francisco Holigores, president of the Dasmariñas Village Association, said that the commercialization of McKinley road is "too premature and not necessary" considering it is close to the highly developed Ayala center and Pasong Tamo Extension.

Another specific concern of the residents was on the way the public consultation of the rezoning plan was being conducted.

Ayala said that he was unhappy with the procedure where only the 18 members of the Makati City Council will have a hand in determining the final outcome of the rezoning plan.

Councilor Robert Dean Barbers, one of the two opposition figures in the council, echoed Ayala's concern. He predicted that the rezoning plan will eventually be approved because of the "overwhelming" number of pro-Binay councilors.

In a statement, Mayor Binay branded as unfounded the allegations of certain officials that her husband, Metro Manila Development Authority chair Jejomar Binay, was behind the rezoning plan.

The political opposition in Makati claimed the rezoning plan would convert posh subdivisions in Makati, such as Forbes Park, into commercial areas.

"Some sectors, especially the local opposition, will opposed anything simply because it is an initiative of the majority," Binay said.

"It is unfortunate, but not totally unexpected, that the local opposition would seek to exploit the zoning ordinance for their political gain. How can chairman Binay be behind the zoning when it is the collective work of the city government of Makati," Binay said.

Meanwhile, homeowners of Forbes Park have asked Interior and Local Government Secretary Alfredo Lim to intervence in the Makati zoning controversy. Forbes Park Homeowners association Fred Boromeo and Concepcion said they would ask Lim to uphold citizens' rights which are being runover by the city government. At the same time, homeowners threatened to file abuse of authority charges against the proponents of McKinley Road's commercialization.