A 24-YEAR-OLD worker fell from the forth level of Imperial Hotel along C.M. Recto Avenue last week while replacing a signage. The man, as of this writing is recuperating at the hospital.

I understand how it feels to fall with that height, not because I am a survivor from falling but because I used to ascent-descent the stairs at least four times a day when I managed a regional newspaper holding office in that building, where the elevator is only for the management’s exclusive use.

The building is considered high rise some three or four decades ago when that was erected.

However, with the robust of real estate sector in the city and mushrooming of condominiums, it is sad to note that the city government lost control to the towering new buildings.

Last year, there was a proposal to regulate the heights of structures in the major commercial, high-density residential and institutional zones in the city. The draft was due for deliberation of the council on December 2017. But it was declared “dead on arrival” at the council without any trace of history why and how. The proposal was instead overtaken by the Green Building Ordinance authored by councilor Diosdado Mahipus requiring all property developers to adopt the green technology to make the building cost efficient in its use of power, water, materials and so on.

Recently, another 23 high rise buildings were approved to be constructed by 2019 aside from the ongoing construction of Vivalde Residences to erect 37 stories along C.M. Recto. The new buildings will include a 40-story Apo View Residences believed to be the tallest building in Mindanao, the 39-story Peak Parksuites, and the 38-story Felcris residences.

Mayor Sara Duterte created a task force composed of the City Planning and Development Office, City Engineers’ Office and the City Legal Office to work on the draft and urged the City Council to come up with a legislative measure to regulate the heights of new buildings to cope up with the current infra-surge.

abrigodann@gmail.com