Councilor Archie Baribar led a group of Bacolod City Councilors last week to conduct an inquiry on the reported structural defects of the houses in the Camella Homes Subdivision. Their objective was to determine whether the houses are fit for human habitation.
While allegations on the veracity of reports that three Bacolod officials received one house each as a consideration on the approval of the building permit of the Camella Homes Subdivision, were not included in the inquiry, observers at the session were buzzing with these allegations. Baribar started off the inquiry by questioning Josephine Segundino, head of the Bacolod Housing Authority (BHA), on the procedures that led to the granting of a building permit to Camella Homes. Segundino stated that she took the report of Engr. Tizon, the consultant of Camella Homes who certified that the houses being built by Camella Homes complied with all the requirements of the National Building Code and therefore, they were granted a building permit. Baribar interpellated Segundino on whether her office also sent an inspector or verified all the plans of Camella Homes. Segundino stated that there was no need as she took the word of Engr. Tizon, who has also the licenses certifying that he is an experienced engineer. Councilor Baribar also questioned Engr. Quiatchon on various aspects covering the Camella Homes Project. Councilors "El Cid" Familiaran, Sonya Verdeflor, Catalino Alisbo and Homer Bais subjected Segundino, and Engr. Quiatchon, both of the Bacolod Housing Authority on whether Camella Homes had complied with all the requirements of the National Building Code. Based on reports that the houses have no beams and no columns, Councilor Bais remarked, "These homes being constructed by Camella Homes may be like the structurally defective houses that I visited in Luzon which swayed when we went up to the second floor." Councilor Familiaran inquired on the role that HLURB in this construction and whether Camella Homes needed to get the approval of HLURB. Also, considering that the structural integrity of the homes being built was being questioned, on whether BHA had made all the necessary moves to verify the reports. Councilor Alisbo also questioned on the role that their architect played in the construction of the houses. Councilor Verdeflor requested for clarification on the employment status of Engr. Tizon, whether he is (a casual or a job order) employee of Camella Homes. Segundino replied that Engr. Tizon was not an employee of Camella Homes but only the consulting engineer of the corporation. Engr. Ephraem Hechanova of the Bacolod City Engineer’s Office (CEO), when questioned on their function on the building permit application of Camella Homes, stated that neither he nor the Bacolod City Engineer have any authority to inspect the housing project. That, if ordered by the SP, he would undertake such as inspection in order to determine the structural integrity of the homes being built. Baribar then assured Hechanova that such an authority would be given to him and that he should report his findings in next week’s session. (This writer was intrigued on three counts, namely, the allegation that certain Bacolod officials received a "gift" of one house each - the alleged structural defects of the homes, and, the statement of Councilor Bais that the homes that he inspected in Luzon were "wobbly" and we took pains to inquire from some realty firms in Metro Manila on the integrity of Camella Homes Corporation.) We received seven reports; however, one report that also intrigued us was the allegation that prior to the Presidential elections in 2010, Camella Homes sold their housing project to Ayala Corporation which is situated in Carmona, Cavite. Upon inspection of the alleged 80 houses, they were allegedly found to be structurally defective, what Ayala Corporation did was to bulldoze all the houses and constructed their own homes.Whether this is true or not remains to be seen! Rumors are rife among our "deep throat" informants at the Bacolod City Hall that that the engineers of the BHA are against granting Camella Homes a building permit because they found the house to be structurally defective, however, Segundino insisted that the houses are okay and therefore they were granted a building permit.* W. Henry O. Streegan Negros Daily Bulletin
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