Alleba Politics

Eight Votes for the Environment

September 24th, 2007 at 9:13 pm (Davao City, Environment, General)

In yet another commendable move from the Davao City Council, the request of Robinsons Land land to reclassify part of Bago Gallera in Davao City into a medium density residential area was rejected. The area is currently classified as a low density protected residential area. It is protected because it sits on top of an aquifer. A low density classification allows 20 residential lots within a hectare, while a medium density classification allows 60 residential lots within a hectare.

When the Robinsons Land Vice President for Construction and Engineering Engineer Brigido Calayan was questioned on why they requested for reclassification, he answered with much rhetoric that it is their company’s answer to Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the national government’s call for affordable housing for the Filipinos. Neophyte Councilor Rachel Zozobrado asked the representative if the area in Bago Gallera was the only one the the entire of Davao where they could do their project. Calayan answered with a hesitant yes and argued that it was 2 kilometers away from a residential area. Zozobrado also probed into the company’s plan for sewage, garbage disposal, and other systems.

When Councilor Diosdado Mahipus questioned the company’s plan to have commercial lots within their project, Calayan skirted around the issue and even had the gall to say that they will “cross the bridge” when they get there. Calayan even went as far as saying that the project will benefit the city, and the national government financially. Safety nets were mentioned to answer concerns on the possibility of overloading the aquifers in the area. But these safety nets were not presented and elaborated.

After the questions where entertained, Councilor Pilar Braga expressed her objection to the Council Committee on Housing’s report approving the request for re-classification. This prompted presiding officer Councilor Peter Laviña to call for a division of the house.

Three councilors voted to accept the committee report approving the request for reclassification.

Eight councilors including neophytes Karlo Bello III, Louie John Bonguyan, and Zozobrado voted to object to the committee report. Lady councilors Susabel Reta and Braga, veteran councilor Mahipus also voted to object. I regret not writing down the names of the two others who voted to object because they deserve to be recognized. (For those who know, please comment here.)

These eight councilors were brave enough to stand for the environment and for the generations of Davaoeños who will benefit from the preservation of the aquifers.

Hopefully, the city council will continue to work not just for the city’s economic development, but more so for it’s sustainable development.

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