Europa folk complain vs developer

By LITO RULONA
Correspondent

THE Federation of Gran Europa Homeowners’ Association (Fogeha) has raised complaints against a real estate developer, alleging poor living conditions in their communities.

During a news conference at the Cagayan de Oro Press Club (COPC) late last week, Fogeha president Hermolando Caytuna led a group in accusing their subdivision developer of giving them a “dream that turned into a nightmare.”

“At first glance, it seems to be the ideal answer to the search for ideal affordable homes. Imagine how horrible it would be for a new homeowner to discover that the house he bought lacks, of all things, a kitchen, a laundry, a bath and toilet,” Caytuna said.

There was an incident, he said, when a homeowner decided to build a toilet but his construction materials were not allowed to pass the Grand Europa gate by guards because there was no approval from the management. He said it was ironic given that all government permits have already been issued.

“And do you know that the Gran Europa management charges exorbitant fees for permits such as this, and that this is required even if you only want to repair a broken faucet?” one of the homeowners complained.

Caytuna claimed that to answer the restroom needs of homeowners, the management provided a cistern (single compartment type underground tank) to contain the sewage.

Caytuna said the use of this kind of sewage tank has long been disallowed for being unsanitary and unhealthy.

But at Gran Europa, “it is very common to smell fresh sewage as one passes by a storm drainage outlet” because the cistern is directly linked to storm canals.

He said there are times when waste matters spill out to the streets.

“Why is this being tolerated? Homeowners complain and when they do, the water service to their subdivisions is cut off by the management. So, the complainant and his neighbors will suffer if anyone complains,” he alleged.

Residents also complained of a number of unlighted streets, and uncollected garbage.

Caytuna said the homeowners have long been complaining because only three wells were being used to supply water to some 2,300 households in seven subdivisions.

“What is becoming anomalous is that all deep wells do not have a single permit from any government agency, and the Cagayan de Oro Water District. Gina-charge kami sa taas kaayo compared to the COWD rates,” he said.

This paper tried to get a statement from the developer. The firm has yet to comment on the complaints at presstime.