Filing of case vs erring construction firm sought

Ruth Palo

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posted on 1 year ago — updated on 1 second ago

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DAVAO CITY- The Committee on Environment and Natural Resources of the 20th City Council here urged the city legal office to file an appropriate case against a construction firm for violating a city ordinance.

First District Councilor Tek Ocampo, chairperson of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources during Aprubado sa Konseho media forum on Tuesday, May 14 said that the city council through a resolution has urged the City Legal Office to sue Kan Kon Chi Construction and Development Corporation (KKCCDC) after they violated city ordinance no. 0988-22 series of 2022, known as “Davao City Waterways, Ponding Areas, and Wetlands Protection Ordinance of 2022.”

Ocampo said the council’s resolution stemmed from various complaints received by the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) from neighboring residents regarding the earthmoving activities conducted by KKCCDC located at Kilometer 11 San Roque, Cabantian, Davao City.

Upon investigation of the CENRO on November 29, 2022, the backfilling in the natural waterway was verified and further found illegal dumping of solid waste prompting the agency to order a stoppage of the operation for them to secure necessary permits from the concerned government offices . However, upon consultation, the company still continued its operation.

Ocampo’s committee immediately conducted three committee hearings after they received the report from CENRO on January 10, 2023.

During the hearings held February 23, 2023, June 29, 2023, and March 20, 2024 at Sangguniang Panlungsod, the committee found that KKCCDC did not observed the ordinance particularly under Section 6, prohibiting land contour alterations, reclamations, and/or earth-filling activities indirectly designed or will consequently cause obstruction of waterways, or destruction and damage to detention ponds, retention ponds, lakes, lagoons, wetlands, and other natural ponding areas in the city.

Ocampo said the establishment has no ensured compliance with environmental protection measures of the said ordinance which require no contour alterations, reclamations, and/or earth filling activity in the city shall be issued a certification and clearance by any of the local government unit without a resolution expressing no objection from the city council.

He said since 2022, the backfilling has caused disruption on the natural waterway affecting the residents.

The committee, according to Ocampo, resolves to order KKCCDC to return the waterway to its original state until all required permits and licenses have been complied.