Metropolis Councilor Jun Alcover | Screengab from Sangguniang Panglungsod Cebu Metropolis – Secretariat
CEBU CITY, Philippines — A department of a serious fast-food large in downtown Cebu Metropolis is beneath hearth for encroaching on a public sidewalk with out a constructing allow, a violation that has endured for years with out enforcement.
Throughout a public listening to on the town’s proposed revised zoning ordinance, Councilor Pastor “Jun” Alcover questioned why no motion had been taken in opposition to the institution positioned on the nook of F. Gonzales Road, regardless of a number of complaints since 2016.
“Why is he unttouchable too?” Alcover aked.
(Why is it untouchable?)
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He stated pedestrians on their approach to the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño have lengthy been pressured to stroll on the street as a result of the sidewalk has been blocked.
Anne Marie Cuizon, the assistant head of the Metropolis Planning and Growth Workplace (CPDO), confirmed the enterprise has no locational clearance, whereas Workplace of the Constructing Official (OBO) consultant Emmanuel Cuizon additionally admitted the institution lacks a constructing allow.
The OBO, he stated, had issued a number of notices and referred the case to the Cebu Metropolis Authorized Workplace, however enforcement has remained elusive.
Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera criticized the unequal therapy of violators. She famous that whereas a shanty was criminally charged for easement encroachment, the industrial institution has operated uninterrupted for over seven years.
“Barong-bargain, however constructing, not nonetheless. That is not proper,” pesquera stated.
(The shanty was charged, however the constructing nonetheless wasn’t.)
Cuizon argued that regardless of their efforts, they’re hampered by the dearth of authority to instantly pursue authorized motion, as solely the town’s authorized workplace can file instances.
He added that their personnel have confronted “intimidation” when making an attempt to implement insurance policies.
Councilor Jerry Guardo shared the identical frustrations over persevering with easement violations elsewhere within the metropolis.
He stated that even with cease-and-desist orders and barangay and police involvement, development nonetheless proceeds.
“The place is the enamel of OBO? There is no such thing as a tooth to cease them,” Guardo stated. ?
Councilor Noel Wenceslao famous the difficulty of unchecked industrial encroachments will not be distinctive to downtown Cebu, stating related issues in upland areas the place companies are sprouting close to protected zones.
Councilor Philip Zafra stated the state of affairs displays a broader failure in enforcement.
“It’s irritating to go so many insurance policies solely to see no motion on the bottom,” he stated.
Cuizon assured the council that the OBO will revisit the difficulty and is awaiting the stakeholders’ compliance to clear the decrease floor flooring. /csl
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