Torre de Manila

TORRE DE MANILA

by Anton Antonio

June 18, 2015

Torre de Manila, a condominium building project of David M. Consunji, Inc. (DMCI), has been hugging the front pages of most newspapers lately.  But what really happened here?  How could the construction of a 47-storey building go on with all the controversies surrounding it?  A news agency (GMA Network News) came up with the following timeline:

• June 19, 2012 – Zoning permit was issued.
• July 5, 2012 – Building permit was issued.  The City Council urged the City Building Official to temporarily suspend the building permit of Torre de Manila because of a complaint by Carlos Celdran.
• May 24, 2012 – The Manila Council conducted a hearing on Torre de Manila but the resolution was not acted upon because of the lack of participation of the local executive, and because of the nearing elections.
• After May 2013 – Manila Councilor DJ Bagatsing filed a resolution instructing the City Building Official to temporarily suspend the building permit of Torre de Manila because of the public outcry.  During the local council hearings, it was discovered that: (a) with respect to the national and local law, there was no violation in obstruction of the Rizal Monument; and, (b) with respect to the Floor Area Ratio and the Percentage of Land Occupancy of City Ordinance 8119, there was a violation.  Torre de Manila has a floor area-ratio of 7.79, while the building should only be allowed a maximum floor-area of 4 because it is situated within Manila’s Institutional University Cluster.
• November 26, 2013 – The Mania City Council approved the suspension of the building permit of Torre de Manila.  DMCI then filed an appeal to the City Planning which was forwarded to the Manila Zoning Board of Adjustment and Appeal.
• January 16, 2014 – A resolution exempting the development from the zoning requirements was adopted by the City Council of Manila.
• January 24, 2014 – The Manila Zoning Board of Adjustment and Appeals approved the construction of Torre de Manila after DMCI appealed for an exemption to the local zoning law.
• August 6, 2014 – Sen. Pia Cayetano, chair of Senate Committee on Education, Arts and Culture, filed Senate Resolution 824 which prompted a senate investigation on the matter.
• September 12, 2014 – The Knights of Rizal filed a 26-page petition before the Supreme Court seeking to stop the construction of Torre de Manila.  Aside from a temporary restraining order to suspend construction, the group asked the SC to order the demolition of whatever is standing on the lot.
• January 15, 2015 – National Commission for Culture and the Arts issued a cease and desist order on the Torre de Manila, citing the obstruction of view of the Rizal Shrine.
• February 2015 – The Supreme Court has ordered the NCCA to explain why it stopped the construction of Torre de Manila.
• June 16, 2015 – The Supreme Court, on an 8-5 vote, issued a temporary restraining order to the construction of Torre de Manila.
• June 30, 2015 – An oral argument was set on the issue.

The timeline could only give us a general sense of what really happened.  But should we really care for details when there are only two possible scenarios in this case: (1) the Supreme Court ruling in favor of the complainants --- Carlos Celdran, Knights of Rizal and National Commission for Culture and the Arts --- which may lead to the possible demolition of Torre de Manila; and, (2) the Supreme Court Ruling in favor of DMCI that will allow the completion of Torre de Manila.  From the culture and arts standpoint, Scenario No. 1 has a justified case while Scenario No. 2 should respect and encourage free enterprise in a democratic economy such as the Philippines.  But is there a “middle ground” or what is commonly called “win-win situation” where both parties can meet in compromise?

My little thoughts have a wild idea.  What if DMCI re-designed the west wall of Torre de Manila to show on its facade a huge Philippine flag?  (Please see accompanying image on the right.)  Will this be the middle ground or win-win solution?  This will allow Torre de Manila to fit the view of the Rizal Shrine and will no longer be the “pambansang photo bomber” (meaning: someone who either intentionally or unintentionally ruins an otherwise normal photo).  Anything less will simply mean saying goodbye to Torre de Manila.

Just my little thoughts…

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REFERENCE:

gmanetwork news, (2015). “Infographic: The Torre de Manila Controversy.” Retrieved on June 18, 2015 from http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/506502/news/metromanila/infographic-the-torre-de-manila-controversy