Quezon City council declares White Plains as special development area

MANILA, Philippines - The Quezon City council has passed an ordinance reclassifying both sides of Katipunan Avenue from the boundary of St. Ignatius Village subdivision to White Plains Avenue from a low-density residential zone to a special development area.

Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. signed the ordinance into law last March 30.

The councilors who pushed for the passage of the measure noted that the portion of Katipunan Avenue in District III has attained the special development zone status with the proliferation of business establishments, “which in a way contributes to the economic development of Quezon City.”

Under the ordinance, the declared special development zone shall be governed by the general district requirements applicable for major commercial zones, with additional requirements for townhouses, churches, schools, supermarkets, restaurants, office buildings, and tertiary hospitals.

Existing establishments along Katipunan Avenue that are not allowed to operate in the area shall be given a grace period of one year to phase out their business. These banned businesses include gravel and sand dealers, furniture repair and upholstery shops, blacksmiths, vulcanizing shops, hardware and auto supply shops, betting stations, beerhouses, motels, nightclubs, signage makers, machinery and machine shops, funeral parlors, warehouses and bus terminals, among others. – Perseus Echeminada