THE Sanggunang Panlungsod (SP) is set to impose another requirement on those seeking to backfill their fishponds located along the newly identified growth centers of the city to make sure that they do not hinder the flow of water to and fro the river.

Councilor Jose Netu Tamayo, chair of the council’s committee on laws, ordinances and judiciary, said the additional requirement will ensure that those backfilling their properties will not close or block the egress of water to the rivers and add to cause of flooding in the city.

Tamayo said during a committee hearing conducted by the committees On Land Use, and on Laws, Ordinances and Judiciary on Tuesday that the requirement for the submission to the city council of a development plan for the properties along the new growth centers of Calmay-Lucao Area, Bonuan and Caranglaan-Tebeng area to be backfilled will be incorporated in a draft ordinance he is set to file on Sep. 3.

The city engineering as well as the city zoning office will check whether the development plan presented by property owners was strictly complied with and if not, the SP should have the right to revoke the ordinance it issued for the same.

 

The SP first intended to introduce amendment to Section 73 of the Zoning Ordinance in the new Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP), but was informed by Zoning Officer James Fernandez that such an amendment must go through the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board’s regional and national office.

 

Assistant City Legal Officer Roy Laforteza then recommended that this new requirement be provided in a separate ordinance to be passed by the SP.

 

Tamayo said under the zoning ordinance, property owners who want to convert their property from residential to commercial or residential need to go the Dagupan SP and seek the passage of an ordinance for the same after which they get clearance from the zoning office before applying for Environmental Compliance Certificate from the Environment Management Board (EMB).

 

Under the approved CLUP, no backfilling of properties will be allowed unless an ordinance approving the reclassification from agricultural to commercial or residential is granted.

 

Councilor Nicanor Aquino, chair of the committee on land use, warned of a situation where the property owner would ask for the passage of a SP resolution after the backfilling is done.

 

Two weeks ago, the SP asked EMB to check all those which it issued ECC on whether the applicants strictly complied. (Leonardo Micua)

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