OSMEÑA
Non-correction of setback violations at Il Corso and SM Seaside at SRP prompts mayor’s action
Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña yesterday announced that he would cancel the building permits of properties owned by Filinvest Land Inc. (FLI) and SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SMPHI) at the South Road Properties (SRP) because of violations of the Building Code.
Osmeña said these companies have been reluctant to comply with the violations of the Building Code.
FLI allegedly committed violations of the National Building Code of the Philippines (NBCP) on constructing a concrete canopy and columns on its property line of the Il Corso project and road-right-of-way (RROW) and that it committed a setback violation; while SM Prime Holdings also failed to comply with the setback requirements in the construction of the SM Seaside City Cebu.
Under the Building Code, an eight-meter setback is required for structures along newly developed roads and that the area should be free from any obstruction.
“Management declined to comment on the matter,” an SM representative told Cebu Daily News in a text message when sought for comment regarding the mayor’s action.
CDN also tried to get FLI’s reaction on the mayor’s action, but FLI officials could not be reached for comment.
Osmeña said that the notices of the cancellation of building permits were sent to FLI and SM yesterday.
“So in the case of Filinvest, we will allow the existing tenant to continue to operate although technically we are canceling also their occupancy permit,” said Osmeña.
He said that another reason for the cancellation of the building permit of FLI was that the former officer-in-charge of the Office of the Building Official was not deputized by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
“Now their building permit is not valid. No authority,” he said.
In the case of SM, the DPWH has recommended that they be compelled to correct the violations they committed.
“They (SM) have issued their statement that they want to clear it out. They have not done it. So I am also canceling their building permit,” he said.
Osmeña said that if SM would not do anything to correct the violations, he would also close SM’s store.
“DPWH gave them a chance to correct but nothing has been done. Maybe, they think they are exempted from the law. That is the problem with SM. They think they are exempted from anything. And you know what? They probably are, but we will find out,” Osmeña said.
When Osmeña was asked if there will be a chance that his friendship with SM will be better in the future, the mayor said that his friendship is not for sale.