Official statement from The Stria issued
The Stria, a mixed-use condominium and resort project in Barangay Poblacion, Santa Fe, Bantayan Island, has found itself at the centre of a regulatory dispute. Despite the developer's claims of compliance with environmental, zoning, and building regulations, ongoing concerns about height limits and environmental impact have led to suspensions and orders to halt construction activities.
Compliance Claims
The developer, Fifth Avenue Property Development Corp., asserts that The Stria has all the necessary permits and has followed legal requirements. This includes a building permit compliant with the National Building Code and a height clearance permit from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP). The project also received favourable endorsements from the Barangay Poblacion and the Bantayan Island Wilderness Area (BIWA), including a resolution by the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB).
Moreover, the Santa Fe Municipal Government passed Ordinance No. 14-2023, allowing construction of an 11-storey mixed-use building at the site. The project secured an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC), which requires a favourable PAMB resolution and indicates projected gross floor area and environmental safeguards such as sewage treatment and materials recovery facilities.
Regulatory Concerns and Disputes
However, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) suspended The Stria's ECC due to violations of the Philippine Environmental Impact Statement System. The height limit allowed was 10 meters (approximately three floors), but construction had exceeded this, reaching four floors and planning to go up to 11 floors, which poses environmental risks and breaches regulatory limits for a protected zone.
Following this, environmental regulators and local authorities ordered a suspension of all construction activities to address these violations. This suspension has caused a stir, with some questioning the discrepancy between municipal/local government approvals and environmental regulations enforced by DENR and EMB Region 7.
Summary
While The Stria developer asserts legal compliance with permits and local ordinances allowing the building’s height and construction, environmental regulatory bodies have found that the actual height exceeds the established limit for a protected area, prompting suspension orders. This conflict highlights a discrepancy between municipal/local government approvals and environmental regulations enforced by DENR and EMB Region 7, with the latter prioritizing environmental protection and height restrictions due to the protected status of the site.
The Stria project, developed by the Fifth Avenue Property Development Corporation, has no legal issues, according to the recent announcement. However, official environmental authorities have suspended the project due to non-compliance with height and environmental impact regulations relevant to the protected area designation of the site.
Notices about The Stria project were made in the media, as stated in the recent announcement. Public consultations were conducted for The Stria project to ensure all required approvals, as stated in the recent announcement. The 11-story resort within The Stria project has passed the provisions of the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC). The resort was found to have complied with the regulations regarding the three hectares of land declared as part of the protected area on Bantayan Island, according to regulators.
The development of The Stria, as stated in a recent announcement, has been transparent, and public consultations were conducted to ensure all required approvals, including notices in the media. There is nothing illegal about the development of The Stria, as stated in a recent announcement.
- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has raised concerns about The Stria, as the project's current height exceeds the allowable limit for a protected area, potentially breaching environmental regulations.
- The finance and real-estate industry are closely following the regulatory disputes surrounding The Stria, as the project's compliance with environmental regulations will have implications for future development in similar protected zones.
- In an effort to address the regulatory concerns, the government and industry leaders could collaborate on revised guidelines to ensure harmonious development and environmental protection in protected areas such as Bantayan Island.
