Subd cmte reviews planned lot dev’t in Kauswagan

The City Council committee on subdivision and landed estate chaired by Councilor Edgar S. Cabanlas during its recent meeting discussed the request of Crown Stationers Corporation for a permit and clearance from the City Government to develop a parcel of land traversed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Flood Risk Management Project (FRIMP-CDOR) in Barangay Kauswagan.

Councilor Cabanlas said the committee inspected the area and noticed that the flood control dike was not aligned. He said the DENR asked the DPWH to shift to the left of the bridge leading to Barangay Puntod.

According to the councilor, the DPWH built the redesigned dike as requested by the DENR. However, the project affected the lot owned by the corporation.

“Kung gi-straight sa DPWH ang dike, protected area ang property sa Crown so makadevelop sila, ang nahitabo naa may dike wala magkatupong,” he stressed.

Councilor Cabanlas said the developer wants to develop the lot at the same level as the dike project but the DPWH said a recommendation from the DENR is required.

A representative of the DENR said half of the properties are in timberland areas. It was changed because of the need to preserve the mangrove plants.

According to DENR’s policy, timberland areas are not subject to development or disposal but rather to protection and conservation, he said.

“Almost 50 percent or half of that property is traversed by the timberland areas,” he cited.

However, the DENR representative said they will approve the request for the non-timberland areas.

As this developed, Councilor Cabanlas requested the developer to submit to the committee the subdivision plan relative to its proposal for the City Housing and Urban Development Department (CHUDD) and City Engineer’s Office’s recommendation.

Councilor Jose Pepe S. Abbu, Jr., member of the committee, was also present during the meeting.