Environment group hails passage of ordinance to protect Shrine Hills
By AJ Siytangco
Published Sep 19, 2018 08:02 pm
By Antonio Colina IV
DAVAO CITY – An environmental group here hailed the approval of proposed amendments in the 2013 Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance that seek to expand the protection and encourage environment-friendly developments at the 222-hectare Shrine Hills identified as Urban Ecological Enhancement Sub-Zone (UEESZ).
(MANILA BULLETIN)
Interface Development Interventions (IDIS) Executive Director Chinkie Peliño-Golle said their group lauded the City Councilors for exercising their political will in favor of the “general public and the environment” in passing the critical amendments to the five-year ordinance last Tuesday.
She added that amendments will provide landowners and developers more options on what projects to pursue in Shrine Hills.
“We are optimistic that after this, the local government will finally work with the landowners and developers in appropriate management schemes and hopefully, parks will be established in Shrine Hills aside from the residential buildings,” Golle said.
The proposed amendments expounded the provisions under Section 3 for the City Government “to manage, protect, conserve, and implement greening programs in areas determined as prone to natural hazards and deemed critical in providing the ecological balance and enhancement in the city’s urban zones.”
Once passed into law, the city will promote environmental stability and biodiversity conservation initiatives; enhance climate change mitigation and adaptation measures in the UEESZ areas; promote and establish privately-owned public open spaces, and urge the consolidated effort of private landowners and all stakeholders through massive greening programs.
Golle said only greening activities will be allowed in the Shrine Hills under the existing ordinance but proposed amendments seek to allow developments provided that project proponents meet certain requirements such as “limited development with the barest minimum alteration of the topsoil, the slope, and the overall geo-physical characteristic of the area.”
Davao City Local Zoning Review Committee, a recommendatory body created under the 2013 Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, pushed these proposed amendments.
The ordinance allows no-till agricultural activities at the Shrine Hills, a landslide-prone area, and low-impact eco-tourism projects like eco-tourism facilities or parks.
(MANILA BULLETIN)
Interface Development Interventions (IDIS) Executive Director Chinkie Peliño-Golle said their group lauded the City Councilors for exercising their political will in favor of the “general public and the environment” in passing the critical amendments to the five-year ordinance last Tuesday.
She added that amendments will provide landowners and developers more options on what projects to pursue in Shrine Hills.
“We are optimistic that after this, the local government will finally work with the landowners and developers in appropriate management schemes and hopefully, parks will be established in Shrine Hills aside from the residential buildings,” Golle said.
The proposed amendments expounded the provisions under Section 3 for the City Government “to manage, protect, conserve, and implement greening programs in areas determined as prone to natural hazards and deemed critical in providing the ecological balance and enhancement in the city’s urban zones.”
Once passed into law, the city will promote environmental stability and biodiversity conservation initiatives; enhance climate change mitigation and adaptation measures in the UEESZ areas; promote and establish privately-owned public open spaces, and urge the consolidated effort of private landowners and all stakeholders through massive greening programs.
Golle said only greening activities will be allowed in the Shrine Hills under the existing ordinance but proposed amendments seek to allow developments provided that project proponents meet certain requirements such as “limited development with the barest minimum alteration of the topsoil, the slope, and the overall geo-physical characteristic of the area.”
Davao City Local Zoning Review Committee, a recommendatory body created under the 2013 Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, pushed these proposed amendments.
The ordinance allows no-till agricultural activities at the Shrine Hills, a landslide-prone area, and low-impact eco-tourism projects like eco-tourism facilities or parks.