A Human Rights Issue on The Effects of the Real Estate Development Project of Monterrazas de Cebu to Upland Barangays Guadalupe, Tisa, Labangon, and S

By Virgil B. Vallecera

I. The Issue

Last April 2008, a landslide occurred that affected the residents and properties of Sitio Dakit, Barangay Guadalupe. This was because of an ongoing construction of a development project for a ‘Monterrazas de Cebu’ by the real estate developer Landco Pacific Corp. (Landco). The project covers an area of 210 hectares, involving the upland portions of Barangays Guadalupe, Tisa, Labangon, and Sapangdaku.

II. Government Action

The incident prompted the Cebu City Hall to suspend the development permit of Landco. Mayor Tomas Osmeña gave Landco conditions in order for it to continue the project. He required Landco to build water detention ponds before reinstating the development permit of Monterrazas de Cebu.

After almost three months, Landco has completed rehabilitation and construction of six water detention ponds, which have a total capacity of more than 10,000 cubic meters of rainwater. The company spent P20 million to construct the facilities.

III. Additional Measures Taken

Aside from the detention ponds, it reported that the construction of retaining walls is 60 percent completed. The company used the coco-matting technology, which involves the use of coconut husks to cover slopes and prevent erosion. After the coco mats were set in place, seedlings were planted on the slope to hold the soil.

Landco made substantial compliance to the conditions set by the Mayor to instill mitigating measures to avoid another landslide.

However, in order that the company indeed complied with his conditions, Osmeña is set to have a personal inspection next week of the said project. The mayor will make sure that the mitigating measure would protect the lives and properties of the residents of the upland barangays of Cebu City.