Villegas, Sean L. Homework No.

2 - Prelim

CE 512 – CE52FC2 11/14/2019

Cases of Unethical Practices in Civil Engineering in the Philippines

1. TORRE DE MANILA

MANILA, 2014

The construction of Torre de Manila has been hit for violating Manila City zoning laws.

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Pia Cayetano did not mince words in reacting to the

allegation of DMCI Homes that photos taken by media of the controversial Torre de Manila were

photoshopped. “It is unfortunate that instead of answering the issues head on, DMCI has chosen

to trivialize mounting public protests against Torre de Manila by claiming that all photographs

showing its condo tower photobombing the Rizal Monument were manipulated or merely

Photoshopped,” she said in a September 17 statement.

DMCI Homes had earlier publicized a statement saying “to grab public attention,” some

parties had taken the “unethical approach of virtually juxtaposing pictures of our project right

behind the monument.” Cayetano took it personally, saying DMCI’s allegations undermine the

integrity of the Senate inquiry she has called to look into the company’s possible violations in

constructing the tower. "DMCI's attitude towards this issue insults the intelligence of any self-

respecting Filipino. It questions the reputation of professional photographers and media

establishments that have posted photos and aired video footages of their photobombing tower,”

she said. The senator stood by the integrity of her staff and media photographers who

documented the ocular inspection she had conducted on August 27. Photos of the inspection

have been used in recent articles about the Senate inquiry on the 49-storey condominium.
Adjusting to DMCI Homes

She also derided suggestions of DMCI Homes that if one were to stand at a certain angle

from the Rizal Shrine, Torre de Manila would be hidden from sight, thereby allaying concerns

that it would ruin the view and the monument’s visual dominance. “It now wants all Filipinos,

foreign tourists, dignitaries and practically coming generations from here on to adopt its

preferred 'view' of the Rizal Monument, which until late last year, has stood there, proud and

unchallenged for 100 years. How convenient!” During a September 18 press conference, she

made a counter-suggestion. “Why don’t they just put an arc near the Shrine so we can tell people

to just stay there if they want an unobstructed view?”

To set matters straight, Cayetano said she would once again invite DMCI Homes to

attend a hearing set to take place the following week. She said she would also invite company

representatives to join her in an ocular inspection of the Rizal Monument to show her how the

landmark may be viewed without the tower.

It is similar to the challenge posed by cultural activist Carlos Celdran who dared DMCI

Homes executives to take a “selfie” at the Shrine to prove the tower did not ruin the view.

Possible demolition aside from its impact on the Rizal Shrine, a National Historical Landmark, the

construction of Torre de Manila has been hit for violating Manila City zoning laws. Its floor-to-

area ratio far exceeds the limit set for its location, thereby burdening utilities and vehicle

capacity of the area. But DMCI Homes has reiterated that it had all the necessary permits to

begin construction, all of which were obtained during the term of then Manila mayor Alfredo

Lim. After two Senate hearings, Cayetano said she believed that the company was a “builder in

bad faith” because it had proceeded with construction despite opposition from the Manila City
Council and allegations that the permits were hastily issued.

As of August 20, Torre de Manila was already 19 floors high. The Knights of Rizal have

filed a petition with the Supreme Court for the demolition of the condominium. Cayetano also

confirmed that the demolition of the building or an imposed height limit may be part of the

recommendations she will make at the end of her Senate inquiry.

Reference:

Ranada P. (2014, September 18).Pia Cayetano to DMCI: Don’t insult Filipinos. Rappler.

Retrieved from http://www.rappler.com

2. MANILA RIVER GREEN RESIDENCES

MANILA, 2014

CDC Holdings, Inc., the developer of the planned Manila Green Residences located along

Pedro Gil between Santa Villas and OB Montessori, started yet another condominium

construction project in the historical Santa Ana town without undergoing the

Archaeological Impact Assessment (AIA).

This information was stated in a letter from National Museum director Jeremy Barns to

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada stated. The letter, dated November 27, 2013, said that the location

of the 31-storey condominium was in proximity of a significant archaeological area. It also noted

that the area of the project covered the Histo-Cultural Heritage Overlay Zone.
 Hence, Barns said an AIA must be performed before the city government can issue a

building permit by virtue of Republic Act 10066, or The National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009,

Section 30. The AIA is an important step in determining if an area is an important archaeological

site before excavation or land-moving is performed. However, the developer pushed through

with the project since the permit was issued before the AIA, De Leon explained. The permit only

had a note saying, "subject to AIA." Moreover, its zoning permit had a different street address,

she added. Although the Santa Ana Heritage Tourism Association (SAHTA) tried to stop the

excavation, with the blessing of the national agencies and the help of the police, CDC Holdings

continued the work saying a building permit was already issued, De Leon said.

A team of experts inspected the site on January 2014. The team found pieces of pottery and

other artifacts, which were already damaged. CDC Holdings, Inc. was also invited to the

Thursday public hearing led by senator Pia Cayetano at the Rizal Park Visitors' Center in Manila,

but no representative showed up.

Heritage zone

The residents of Santa Ana, Manila, led by SAHTA president Sylvia Lichauco-de Leon,

presented the challenges the town is facing as a heritage district during the Thursday hearing.

According to De Leon, a portion of Santa Ana was declared a heritage zone by the National

Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) on May 12, 2014. Prior to this, the

government of Manila classified the town as a Histo-Cultural Heritage Overlay Zone by virtue of

City Ordinance No. 8244 on September 22, 2011. Following the recent declaration, the Manila

City Council, led by councilor Priscilla Marie Abante, also stated in a resolution issued August

14, 2014 that there must be strict compliance with national agency-issued guidelines in dealing
with the Santa Ana Histo-Cultural Heritage Overlay Zone.

Santa Ana's heritage zone is composed of historic houses and structures from the Spanish

and American colonial periods, including the Santa Ana Church complex and Plaza Hugo.

Moreover, the town is known to be an archaeological area. Once an area has been recognized as

a heritage site, it is protected by NHCP. Therefore, any construction should adhere to the

guidelines given by the national agency.

Reference:

Macas, T. (2014, September 26).Santa Ana, Manila residents cry for help to protect the heritage

district.

GMA News Online. Retrieved from http://www.gmanetwork.com