THE Beverly Hills Homeowners Association has maintained its position to keep the subdivision closed to public access to maintain the security and privacy of its residents, saying the residents of neighboring subdivisions have “ample access to public roads in Kalunasan.”
In a statement released to SunStar Cebu on Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023, the homeowners association said: “Our desire to maintain harmony with our neighbors must be balanced with our commitment to defend the rights of our residents to live in privacy in a safe and secure environment.”
The homeowners’ statement was released after Cebu City Councilor Jun Pastor Alcover told SunStar’s online news and commentary program “Beyond the Headlines” last Monday, July 31, that the City will reclaim access to the public roads inside Beverly Hills Subdivision. He said the homeowners of Beverly Hills had only until this month to respond to the City’s move.
Beverly Hills is an upscale residential subdivision located in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City. It is built on hilly terrain that gives a good view of the city.
Donated
Alcover said the roads in Beverly Hills are public roads and that they were donated to the city on March 17, 1976. A deed of donation was entered into between Edgar Woolbright, then president and general manager of Beverly Hills Corp., and then Cebu City mayor Eulogio Borres.
The councilor said that today one cannot access the Beverly Hills road going to Veteran’s Village or Upper Kalunasan whether one is on private transport or simply walking.
He said that for one to enter Beverly Hills, one’s vehicle must have a sticker, which will cost P1,500 for a year of use.
Maintenance expense
Alcover said in an earlier interview that the City Government owns the roads and pays for their maintenance and clean-up, including garbage collection.
However, the homeowners association said in the statement released that the roads within Beverly Hills Subdivision are maintained at the expense of the subdivision’s residents who diligently pay dues and fees.
The statement said Councilor Alcover, who lives in Veteran’s Village, an adjacent subdivision of Beverly Hills, and his constituents opted not to participate in the subdivision’s offer to provide access for a nominal fee through stickers on their vehicles.
The association said this refusal resulted in an unjust situation “whereby our own residents bear the burden of security and road maintenance expenses while those who want to use the same road to access their subdivisions do not.”
The association said the sticker fee aids in the maintenance of the subdivision roads and security.
According to the homeowners association, the issue of road access was the subject of a complaint filed by Alcover in 2014 which was dismissed by the court.
It also said the neighboring subdivisions, including areas near Camp Marina, are not landlocked and residents have access to public roads in Kalunasan that are maintained by the City Government.
The association suggests that these public roads, which have been suffering from contractor issues and poor maintenance, as lamented by Alcover, should be addressed by the City.
“City Councilor Alcover is in a position to bring this matter to its resolution to give the residents of neighboring subdivisions access to well-lighted and well-maintained roads,” the statement said.
“We wish to emphasize that our regulations are standard security measures, similar to those observed by gated and private residential communities,” it further stated.
Alcover said Monday that Mayor Michael Rama had ordered the recovery of access to public roads that have been used exclusively by some subdivisions.