NEWS: Pavia folks oppose more high density subdivisions By: F. Allan L. Angelo FORMER Punong Barangay Roneto Hubaldo of Pandac in Pavia, Iloilo said he barely recognizes some of their neighbors. Most of the newcomers live in Deca Homes Phase 1, a residential project of 8990 Housing Development Corp. Deca 1 sits on a 7-hectare property with 968 housing units (duplex type). Its present occupancy rate is less than 50 percent but residents of Pandac already felt the palpable changes in their community since the subdivision began operating. Several meters from Deca 1 is Deca Homes Phase 2 which is double in size and still under construction. But Hubaldo said they were surprised when the developer announced its plan to construct Deca 3, another high density subdivision on a 160-hectare property straddling Brgys. Pandac and Balabag in Pavia and San Jose, San Miguel. If completed and occupied, Deca 3 could balloon Pavia’s current population by 60,000. The town’s latest population count is more or less 45,000 residents. Hubaldo said Deca 1 has yet to be fully occupied “but they are now planning to put up two more subdivisions.” “We think this is too much already. The developer has yet to solve some problems in Deca 1 and here comes two more subdivisions,” he added. On June 1, 2013, the previous barangay council of Pandac passed two resolutions opposing large scale developments in their village, particularly high density housing (HDH) projects. Under Philippine laws, HDH projects refer to subdivisions with 66 to 100 family lot per gross hectare. Structures for HDH are usually multi-storey or duplex type units with an area of 60 square meters (sq. m.) and frontage space of only 3 sq. m. Aside from Deca Homes, Brgy. Pandac also hosts two other HDH projects such as Parc Regency and Providence. To date, Pavia is home to more than 30 subdivisions by various developers. Hubaldo said they don’t want additional HDH in their barangay because of possible social costs and poor infrastructure support. “Our traffic is getting terrible because we only have a two-lane road which is in disrepair. Our school is also having a hard time accommodating the new students,” he added. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! Despite the opposition of Pandac natives, 8990 Housing Development has begun moving in some materials at the Deca 3 project site. The developer also put up a tarpaulin billboard showing an artist’s perspective of Pandac’s future barangay hall. Several residents said the new barangay is like a carrot for the new set of village officials headed by Barangay Captain Corazon Pedregoza. “Daw pakagat para magsugot sila sa project (It’s an enticement for barangay officials to support the project,” said a long-time Pandac resident. Early this year, more than 600 original Pandac residents signed a petition against Deca 3 project. The residents said they already saw the social and environmental impacts of HDH in their barangay such as overpopulation “and we don’t want this to exacerbate.” “Let’s allot the remaining land to better projects which will benefit the barangay and the town, not just subdivisions. Enough is enough! Have pity on Barangay Pandac,” said the petition which was written in Hiligaynon. The residents also asked local officials headed by Mayor Michael Gorriceta, son of 2nd district Rep. Arcadio Gorriceta, not to play blind and deaf to their concerns. In a radio interview, Mayor Gorriceta said he understands the concerns of Pandac residents and promised to mediate between them and the developer. Gorriceta said he will listen and address the concerns of the residents.
Posted on: Mon, 05 May 2014 22:52:44 +0000
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