MGB-7 recommends land developer to submit geohazard assessment report
By Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY, June 2 (PIA) -- In its 2007 assessment of the Casa del Rio Subdivision project of the Commonwealth Estate Inc. (CEI) located at Highway 77, Barangay Talamban in Cebu City, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB-7) in Central Visayas recommends submission of results of the geo-hazard assessment survey (GAS) report to the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB7).
This situation came out because of the collapse of the subdivision’s six-meter-high wall on the evening of May 8.
MGB-7 Senior Science Research Specialist Abraham Lucero, Jr. said the assessment or geohazard identification report was made on April 26, 2007.
Lucero recalled that an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) was issued to Commonwealth Estate Inc. as represented by Operations Manager Engr. Reynaldo Sanchez Jr. for the Casa del Rio Subdivision project on April 2, 2009.
The ECC covered the Casa del Rio project, which has a land area of 3,766 square meters with 2,634 sq.m. with saleable area of 25 houses --3 units duplex houses, 9 units row houses and 13 units single-detached houses; and 849.45 sq.m. for circulation system composed of major and minor roads, motor court, alleys, footpath, and pathways.
In Lucero’s 2007 assessment prepared, the proponent was told to conduct other relevant geologic works that might be deemed important and necessary in the planning or conduct of the detailed geo-hazard assessment.
On the other hand, MGB-7 Regional Director Roger de Dios wrote a letter dated April 27, 2007 to Commonwealth Estate Inc. requiring them to conduct a geohazard assessment survey and submit in the form of a geohazard assessment report (GAR) to the Environmental Management Bureau-7.
The GAR requirement was made as one of the conditions of the ECC meaning, if the proponent-Commonwealth, did not comply with this provision, they will be penalized P50,000 as administrative fine for non-compliance but according to Commonwealth, they submitted the GAR to EMB-7 sometime in 2007. Unfortunately, on May 8, the six-meter retaining wall of Casa del Rio collapsed.
In his May 9 assessment, Lucero recommended the immediate evacuation and relocation of residents near the retaining wall of the Casa del Rio subdivision.
Lucero also recommended for the reinforcement of the retaining wall using high-quality and first-rate materials.
As of now, the revised structural design of the retaining wall of Casa del Rio is now at the Office of the Building Official (OBO) of the Cebu City Government for evaluation, review and approval.
Lucero explained further that DENR Administrative Order No. 2000-28 dated March 14, 2000 stated that all proponents of subdivision development projects, housing projects and other land development and infrastructure projects, private or public, shall undertake an Engineering Geological and Geo-hazard Assessment.
This order is pursued to adequately and comprehensively address and mitigate the possible effects or impacts of geologic hazards and ensure the suitability and safety of a project site proposed for development.
The members of the Joint Ocular Inspection composed of MGB-7, EMB-7, Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board, and OBO who conducted the investigation on May 15, 2012 are in the process of completing the report and await the approval of the revised design from OBO.(mbcn/hfg/PIA-RO7 & DENR-7)