SM trees dialogue to wait after budget hearings

Saturday, January 28, 2012

CONCERNED residents who want to join the stakeholders dialogue called by Mayor Mauricio Domogan will have to wait until after budget deliberations are done at the City Council.

This is because the City Council cannot schedule hearings in its agenda as specified in the Local Government Code until the proposed P1.168-billion city budget is approved.

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Domogan in his weekly Ugnayang Panlungsod said the dialogue he called came after representatives from SM wanted an opportunity to present the design they have prepared for their mall expansion.

Committee on market, trade and commerce headed by Councilor Perlita Chan-Rondez will hear different stands from stakeholders and will come up with a committee report after the public hearing.

Earlier this week, Michael Bengwayan, the lead petitioner against the mall expansion, wrote a letter to Vice Mayor Daniel Fariñas through City Council secretary Prudencio Parnacio expressing their opposition to the expansion.

Bengwayan said he attached copies of the petition including the more than 5,000 signatures they have gathered online and during the protest rally last week against the tree-cutting or earth-balling activities in SM City Baguio.

The mayor added that a City Council confirmation is important in authorizing the City Government’s endorsement to the DENR-issued Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).

The mayor said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will also be asked to present their reasons for issuing an earth-balling permit and an amended ECC to the mall chain during the dialogue.

According to the mayor, he appreciated those who rallied last January 20 for expressing their concern against the mall expansion but stressed they can formally air their opposition in the public hearing.

He expressed disappointment over accusations raised by protesters claiming city officials have not done their jobs and were allegedly bribed for allowing the mall expansion.

“When you are not joining them or making a stand they will accuse you of being bribed which is unfair,” he said.

Domogan said there is nothing the city can do with regard to the earth-balling because the lot where the development will take place is part SM’s private property.

He said President Benigno Aquino III approved the Transfer Certificate of Title, which resulted to the acquisition of the lot by the mall owners.

As to the tree cutting and earth-balling permit, he has given endorsement to the mall development to the DENR because the mall expansion does not violate city land use and zoning plans, reiterating there is no legal ground to prohibit SM from conducting developments in their private property.

Meanwhile, oppositionists to the mall expansion are planning to file a Temporary Environmental Protection Order to prevent the mall expansion and the eventual harming of trees.

Bengwayan added that as part of their continued activities against the earth-balling of trees, they will be conducting Project Save 182 on February 5 at the Pine Trees of the World at the Burnham Park complex.

The activity will include a symbolic tree planting, prayer rally and live concert to dramatize the resident’s opposition to the mall expansion and earth-balling of trees.