Unfinished buildings face demolition in QC

Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. has directed the city engineering office and the planning and development office to initiate action forcing owners of unfinished high-rise buildings in the city to tear them down as they pose great dangers to city residents.

"What can we do with these buildings? They are risky and pose great dangers to the people," he said.

The mayor also ordered city engineering office officer-in-charge Joselito Cabungcal and city planning and development officer Tomasito Cruz to evaluate these buildings to make sure that these structures are not being used for business by some people.

He said the action will be a test case needed for these business to pay their taxes.

"We do no want a hampered development in Quezon City", the mayor told department chiefs and office heads during a regular executive staff meeting at the QC Hall Bulwagang N.S. Amoranto.

"There are so many de facto business here," he said, referring to unfinished buildings. "People are taking advantage of our neglect in making money."

Since these buildings are still unfinished, their owners are not required to apply for occupancy permit, and are not requiring to pay the building tax, as provided under the National Building Code.

These unfinished buildings include the 35-storey edifice on Matalino street at the back of City Hall and the abandoned building along Balete Drive in Cubao.