The City Council has rejected the application of the Consunji-led firm DMCI (David M. Consunji, Inc) to reclassify a property from light industrial zone to heavy industrial zone in a bid for the construction of a cement batching plant in Davao City.
The councilors turned down the application of reclassification of DMCI after a lengthy discussion spanning two sessions in the plenary of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP). The request was presented by the committee of Councilor Bonifacio Militar.
The cement batching plant is supposed to be constructed in the one hectare area of the 4.3 hectares property located in Brgy. Panacan near the junction of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Regional Equipment Services.
Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang, who led the opposition of the reclassification, said the application is not applicable since the property is situated in the residential and commercial area of the city.
He said it is the policy of the city government of Davao that one can’t put an activity if it does not fit its usage.
“The application for reclassification is not in the right place because the surrounding area is residential and commercial,” he said in a text message.
It can be recalled that DMCI, a recognized builder, was in the center of controversy when four of its condominium projects in Davao City namely Magallanes Residences, Verdon Parc, Ecoland 4000, and Palmetto Place collapsed or suffered cracks when a series of magnitude 6 earthquakes rocked Davao City and other parts in Mindanao last year.
As a result, Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio ordered the adversely affected medium-rise condo buildings abandoned and asked the firm to return the money or compensate occupants for damages.
