Wednesday, August 01, 2007 Tom wants to shut down ally’s school
Rodrigo Abellanosa.
IF he had his way, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña would shut down the illegally occupied school building of City Councilor But because the fate of the 3,000 college students attending classes at the Asian College of Technology (ACT) concerns him, Osmeña will leave it to the Office of the Building Official (OBO) to follow due process.
“From what I know, the building should be shut down. The only consideration I have is the 3,000 students there. I’m really worried we will cause trauma on their part if we let them leave their classrooms. Otherwise, I’ll be inclined to shut down the building,” he told reporters yesterday.
An irate Osmeña issued two separate memos yesterday directing Abellanosa to strictly comply with all building rules and regulations.
The mayor also prohibited Abellanosa, a political ally, from having his City Hall staff follow up transactions between the City and ACT.
The councilor was also asked not to summon City Hall personnel to his office to discuss personal business interests.
Osmeña said that while Abellanosa is still complying with occupancy permit requirements, construction work will not be allowed while classes are ongoing.
“Since this (controversy on the ACT) is a personal matter not related to your official duties and functions as an elected public official, you are advised to be extra careful to avoid further controversies,” Osmeña said in his memo to Abellanosa.
Abellanosa, who is in the United States, cannot be reached for comment. But the mayor said he already received a text message from the councilor, who explained his side of the issue.
The other memo was addressed to Assistant Building Official Josefa Ylanan, City Fire Marhsall Esmael Codilla and City Health Department Chief Fe Cabugao.
Abellanosa has started his school’s operations on at least four floors of the 12-story building along P. del Rosario and Leon Kilat Sts. without an approved partial occupancy clearance.
No preferential treatment
“In connection with ACT’s application for an occupancy permit, the full force of all laws and regulations should be enforced, notwithstanding the fact that its owner is a councilor. In fact, because he is a councilor, the laws must be strictly observed. He should not be given any preferential treatment,” his memo to the department heads read.
The mayor explained that the memos were issued to remind all parties that he will not allow city officials to be pressured into issuing the occupancy permit.
Osmeña admitted that the situation puts him in an awkward position.
While he does not want to be perceived to be protecting Abellanosa’s business interests, he also does not want to take away the classrooms of students who might have to relocate if he closes the building.
In a phone interview yesterday, Ylanan said they have not been pressured by Abellanosa and his staff.
The OBO gave them until Thursday to report to their office to answer alleged violations of the National Building Code.
Ylanan has not heard from ACT representatives as of yesterday.
The ACT building is not the only property under scrutiny by City Hall.
The City Attorney’s Office is now looking into the permits and clearances issued for the construction of a 10-story building on Echavez Extension in Barangay Lorega.
Alvero Building is already completed but remains unoccupied.
Clearance
A building permit was issued to its owner, a certain Edwin Alvero, but the permit was intended for a four-story building.
Ylanan said she had the property inspected after noticing that the building has reached 10 floors when she only approved the construction of a four-story building.
The building owner reportedly referred the matter to the City Attorney’s Office after Lorega Barangay officials refused to give him a barangay clearance for the construction.
“Their application is still with us and is considered incomplete. I learned they were not issued a barangay clearance because they applied for it only when the building was nearing completion,” Ylanan said.
Sun.Star Cebu visited the building yesterday and was told that they have all the required permits for the construction.
The office personnel, however, declined from showing copies of their permits. (LCR)
