Borrow the bifocals

Egay Uy .

THE residents of a supposedly prime condominium in uptown Cagayan de Oro lodged a complaint against the developer for allegedly unfinished building support requirements. More specifically, the complaint was the foul smell that seeped into the condominium units in the building because of the “poorly constructed” sewage treatment facility, among other reasons.

When the complaint reached us, the team of inspectors from the Joint Inspection Team of the city was sent to check. Indeed there were initial findings that support the allegations.

On the inspection team’s recommendation, a meeting was called by the City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office last week among the developer, the unit owners, and the inspection team to clarify matters and find solutions to the issues raised.

Unfortunately, the developer was not able to send any representative. Hence, the records of the meeting would reflect that the developer’s failure to attend was considered a waiver to explain its side and shed light on the allegations.  Later however, the developer said they sent a letter explaining why they were not to send a representative to the meeting.

In that meeting, it was learned that the group of unit owners formed themselves into “de facto” organization to make their voice heard as a group.  Allegedly, the developer recognized another group which the “de facto” group calls a “sweetheart group.”  Well, that’s an issue internal to them in which we should not dip our fingers.

After hearing the complaints in detail right from the horses’ mouths, we requested them to send us the documents they mentioned, such as letters to various offices, approved building plans, and the like.  The Office of the Building Official was in the meantime also requested to transcribe the notes of the meeting held last year among the OBO, the developer and the unit owners so agreements reached in that meeting could be followed-through.

On our request, the OBO also agreed to conduct a weekly inspection of the agreed rectifications of the issues because of the alleged commitment by the contractor to complete the rectifications by August this year.

Since this matter has reached the Joint Inspection Team of the city, another perspective will be introduced into the issues raised.  As pointed out by a JIT member, “Lain ang panan-aw sa OBO, lain sab ang panan-aw sa Joint Inspection Team.”  I agree no less.

A follow up meeting will be held to hopefully find a lasting solution to the issues raised.  In the meantime, the inspectors of OBO may have to borrow the bifocals of the JIT.

(Lawyer Egay Uy is serving in the city’s Regulatory and Complaints Board, and the price coordination council.)