Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto on Thursday, Jan. 25, could not hide his dismay after suspending the projects of a construction company for lack of building permits and for not following the approved permit of one of its projects.
Mayor Vico Sotto
Sotto personally went to the project sites of St. Gerrard Construction in Barangay Bambang to inspect its building permits and eventually discovered the discrepancies.
He said one of the buildings only has a permit for a 4-storey L-shape structure but now has a 5th floor and a parking building which were not included in the permit. He also found an ongoing construction project for another building that doesn't have a building permit.
These prompted the city government to halt the constructions.
Later that night, Sotto responded to Curlee Discaya and Cezarah Rowena Discaya of St. Gerrard Construction after allegedly posting and commenting about the suspension of their projects.
"Lagi niyong sinasabi sa mga tao na pinahihirapan o iniipit kayo... Di niyo ba naiisip na baka nahihirapan kayo sa ibang bagay dahil may mali kayo? (You always say to the public that we are giving you a hard time, but don't you realize that maybe the reason why you're having a hard time complying is because you are doing something wrong)," Sotto said.
"Sabi niyo sa comment may "inutusan" kayo na local government unit (LGU) employee at nagastusan niyo ang paglakad ng papel? Ito ba ay pag-amin na may fixer kayo at may sinusubukan kayong lagyan para lumusot ang papeles niyo? Kung ganun ay mabuti naman at hindi umuubra (at kung malaman ko rin kung sino yung sumusubok mag-fixer, tatanggalin ko siya sa LGU) (You said in your comment that you've "instructed" and paid an LGU employee to process your papers. Is that an admission that you have a fixer and you're conducting under-the-table transactions for the processing of your papers? If that's the case then I'm happy it didn't work out)," he added.
The mayor also explained the firm wants to build commercial buildings inside a residential zone.
"Gusto niyo magtayo ng commercial buildings sa isang residential zone. Tandaan, nauna ang zoning nun bago ang pagbili niyo sa mga lote. Sa comment niyo, parang obligado ang mga Pasigueño na baguhin ang zoning para sa personal na interes ninyo (You want to build commercial buildings in a residential zone. Remember, the zoning came first before your purchase of the land. Your comment seems to show that Pasigueños are obligated to change the zoning for your own personal interest)," Sotto said stressing that the city government is now stricter when it comes to zoning.
"Yung malaking commercial/office building niyo sa Bambang, may lumabas na Locational Clearance nung 2018-- questionable dahil residential zone dun. Ngunit dahil may permit na from previous admin, nirespeto't kinilala namin ito. Kaso lang, nakakuha na nga kayo ng building permit para sa lote na iyon, iba pa ang pinapatayo kaysa sa aprubado (Your huge commercial/office building in Bambang that has a Locational Clearance in 2018 is questionable because it is located in a residential zone, but since it has a permit from the previous admin, we respected and honored it. However, the structure you've built is completely different from the one approved and indicated in the permit)," he added.
"Ang nasa permit, L-shaped structure na 4-floors, pero ang pinatayo niyo halos ka-level ng office ko na 8th floor at may parking building na wala rin sa plano. 'Inaayos na naman' daw ang building permit-- una alam niyong bawal yung ihahabol na lang ang permit, pangalawa bawal nga sa zone. Syempre ang susunod na problema niyan ay occupancy at business permit, tapos panibagong paratang na naman sa mga taong ginagawa lang ang trabaho nila (The permit says an L-shaped structure with 4-floors, but what you've built is a building almost at the level of my office with an 8th-floor and even has a parking building that isn't in the plan. The building permit is said to be "in the process" but you are very well aware that pushing through with the construction while the permit is being processed is prohibited. Second, the type of structure is prohibited in the zone. Of course the next issue will be the occupancy and business permit, then they will once again accuse the people who are just doing their jobs)."
Another project was also suspended because its construction is ongoing despite the lack of building permit.
The local chief said the firm's compliance officer and engineer told him of St. Gerrard's other violations during his inspection.
"Hindi po kayo biktima rito at hindi kayo pinahihirapan. Kung naiipit kayo sa legal requirements, baka naman kayo rin mismo ang may pagkukulang o pagkakamali (You are not the victim here and we are not giving you a difficult time. If you're having difficulties in fulfilling the legal requirements, then maybe you're the one at fault)," Sotto said.
He pointed out one of the proofs of Pasig being transparent in all its government transactions and projects include giving people the freedom to bid and win contracts for the LGU. The issuance of permits is also more streamlined and efficient if all the necessary requirements are fulfilled.
"Kaya wag ninyo na rin pilitin na gawing 'political issue' ito. Kasi kung politika lang iisipin ko eh di pagbibigyan ko na kayo. Pero hindi, kasi tungkol ito sa batas at sa interes ng nakararami. Sa Pamahalaan ng Pasig, pareho ang batas para sa mayaman at mahirap. Sa trabaho ko naman, patas ako sa lahat, maging sa kaaway o sa kakampi (Don't make this look like a political issue because if it's just politics, then I would just let you go. But no, this is about the law and the interest of many. The law is equal for both the poor and the rich in Pasig City. In my job, I'm fair to everyone regardless if you're an enemy or an ally)," Sotto noted.
He said his office is open to discuss the issue with the officials of the construction firm.