FUTURE DMCI projects will be heavily scrutinized by the city council after structural integrity problems experienced at one of its development projects, Verdon Parc.
Councilor Bai Hundra Cassandra Advincula said development can’t escape accountability from its previous projects, especially if these are hounded by structural issues or legal problems.
“Similar sa previous applications ng DMCI, hindi maging madali ang pagpasok at pag convince sa body kasi (it won’t be easy to convince the body because) the stigma of their previous developments is always there,” Advincula said.
For one, the councilor said DMCI has to convince lawmakers that the existing concerns won’t recur.
“Pagdating sa council, yung kanilang previous developments will hound them, especially questions regarding the structural integrity,” she said.
To recall, a building of Ecoland 4000, a DMCI-owned condo in the city collapsed following a 6.5 magnitude quake that hit Mindanao in October 2019. Advincula said the strict regulations apply to all developers expressing intent to develop housing units in the city.
When asked if this reaches the point of blocklisting the developer, she said applications should already be screened in the business bureau and the city planning office.
DMCI has a condominium development application pending approval from the city council.
The city council grants the locational clearance for the development permit that will be passed to the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).
In a press conference in Arcadia Event Center on May 24, unit owners of Verdon Parc demanded a refund from DMCI Homes when the Dec. 2, 2023, earthquake rendered their homes inhabitable.
Residents reported unsatisfactory action from DMCI management, which reportedly refused to give back their payments and compensation since the quake happened.
Lawmakers are awaiting the results of the OCBO inspection before proceeding to the next committee hearing.
During the first committee hearing in March, the councilor advised the affected unit owners to file a complaint to the Human Settlements Adjudication Commission.
HSAC is the adjudicatory body of the DSHUD mandated to adjudicate disputes regarding real estate developments, and homeowners association.
“We have advised them to institute the appropriate action to the proper hearing body, to gain traction of demands,” the councilor said.
Advincula appealed to DMCI to be considerate of the homeowners and hear their plea before the complaints reached the HSAC.
