Manila City Vice Mayor Isko Moreno (Franscisco Domagoso in real life) will have a lot of explaining to do in connection with the controversial 49-story Torre de Manila condominium project of the DMCI Holdings, Inc., former Manila City Mayor now Buhay Hayaang Yumabong (Buhay) party-list Rep. Lito Atienza said yesterday.
Aside from incumbent Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada and former mayor Alfredo Lim, Atienza said the House Committee on Metro Manila Development, chaired by Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo should also invite Moreno to explain his alleged involvement in the supposed revision of the original zoning policy in the granting of building permit that prodded Estrada and Lim to approve the DMCI project.
“Dapat ang tanungin diyan si Vice Mayor Moreno kung bakit binago ng city council na pinamumunuan niya ang zoning policy sa pagbibigay ng building permit (Moreno should be asked why the city council headed by Moreno changed the zoning policy in granting a building permit),” Atienza said.
Atienza also questioned the implementation of new rules that require contractors and developers to secure clearance from the city council before proceeding with their projects.
“He (Moreno) should be made to answer why there is a need to require developers and construction companies to get clearance from the city council,” he said, noting that such policy is “subject of many complaints.”
“What is the legal basis for that (permit from city council)? There is too much red tape here,” he said.
The DMCI was granted a building permit for its Torre de Manila project after submitting all requirements,
including an approval from the city planning office in the form of a zoning permit and after being cleared of any violations under the national building code and other laws.
Last year, the Manila City Council decided to suspend the building permit of the DMCI for Torre de Manila after the developer supposedly violated local zoning rules and after concerned citizens and heritage conservationist opposed the project.
But, the Manila Zoning Board of Adjustments and Appeals (MBZAA) granted DMCI’s appeal for exemption from local zoning laws.
MANILA BULLETIN
