City to expedite demolition permit for FLI

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City government will fast-track the release of the demolition permit for Filinvest Land Inc. to clear its eight structures found encroaching on the Cebu South Coastal Road at the South Road Properties.

According to City Legal Officer Rey Gealon, FLI has already agreed with City Hall’s prescribed 60-day period for it to demolish the eight columns of the Il Corso mall to comply with the provisions of the National Building Code of the Philippines.

“Considering that FLI would want to proceed without delay the demolition of their eight illegally constructed columns at Il Corso, the city would likewise issue without delay the required demolition permit,” Gealon said.

The city government has also required the FLI to submit a progress report every 15 days to apprise the city of its compliance.

Gealon said it is the continuing thrust of Mayor Edgardo Labella to uphold the rule of law, without fear or favor.

Sought for comment, Labella said he welcomes FLI’s move to yield to the deadline set forth by the city government.

“I appreciate their gesture to voluntarily demolish their structure. After all, we just want to follow the rule of law,” the mayor said.

Gealon said Architect Florante Catalan and Emmanuel Cuizon, officials from the Office of the Building Official, will immediately issue the demolition permit upon submission of all requirements.

Initially, Festival Supermall Inc. senior vice president Jovita Polloso requested the city government to extend to 100 days the deadline for them to clear the eight posts fronting the mall. Festival Supermall Inc. is a subsidiary of FLI.

But Gealon said the city cannot allow further delay in the clearing because the violation of the eight-meter setback “is so blatant that it is a continuing sore to the eye of passersby.”

FSI, for its part, explained that the eight posts in front of the Il Corso mall are supposedly intended for the construction of a footbridge, which would have been used for the safe passage and access of pedestrians to and from the mall.

Il Corso is a waterfront lifestyle commercial strip on a 10-hectare property at the SRP that FLI bought from the city government years ago.

The mall is part of the masterplan for City di Mare, a township that includes the 40-hectare property that FLI entered in a joint venture with the city, located just across the road from Il Corso. — JMD (FREEMAN)