Zozobrado cautions developers
On Maa-Shrine Hills projects

“Housing developments in the city are welcome but developers should also make sure that the Cherry Hills tragedy will not happen in the city this time around,” councilor Rachel Zozobrado said. Around 60 people died after a landslide occurred in the slopes of Cherry Hills Subdivision in Antipolo City in 1999.

Crown Communities Subdivision and the DM Consunji-UPDI are presently developing the areas along Maa and Shrine Hills and are facing opposition from the Bgy. Maa Federation of Home Owner Association. The Federation is an association of homeowners whose homes are located below the Consunji and the Crown Communities development projects.

Federation president Teodorico Tinio said the sides of the Shrine Hill area is unstable and is therefore not suitable for subdivision development. The Federation officers and members, who met with Vice Mayor Sara Duterte last January 25, said the instability of the soil poses real danger to the residents in terms of landslide and other mass movement.

Zozobrado said the city needs housing developments but the local government should be cautious in approving such developments if they are located in areas where the stability of land is in question. “If you look at the Shrine Hills area from Matina you would notice that the natural contour of the hill has been disturbed already,” she said.

I am not an expert on geology but one cannot help but worry about the possible landslide and other negative effects that can result from disturbing the natural flow of the land with the construction of houses and other infrastructure in the area, she added.

Councilor Braga, who supported the call of the Maa residents said “it is better to err on the side of the safety of the people than in the side of just one or two developers. Braga said Dabawenyos should make sure that housing and other developments will not be harmful to the people in the long run.

Zozobrado also questioned the act of some developers in selling their properties without permits to do so, citing one developer who has been distributing leaflets and selling their lots during an exhibit at SM City Davao two weeks ago. Crown Communities has however communicated with the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board and denied it is already in the process of selling.