As rocks move, Kadamay warns of more environmental destruction in Maa, hits subdivision development

Davao City – with the continued development of the Maa hillslopes for a high-end subdivision, the latest case of boulders dislodging in Purok Juaryo in Maa here prompted the Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) to express concern that the rock movement will presage environmental destruction in the area, and poses a threat to urban poor communities residing below the hills as well.    

“The rock movement may lead to more cases of environmental destruction in the future, and is worth probing in the light of the Villar-owned Crown Asia and Consunji real estate development at the delicate Maa hills,” said Franchie Buhayan, Kadamay-Davao spokesperson.  

“Any large-scale disturbances in the hillslopes and ecosystem of Maa Hills are unwelcome.  We know it would cause the recurrence of landslides and flooding and the most vulnerable are the urban poor communities residing below the hills.” 

Maa has a total population of more than 32,000 in 54 puroks. It has 29 subdivisions and scores of urban poor communities beside the hills and below. 

Kadamay, along with Panalipdan (a broad alliance of environmentalists and people's organizations in Southern Mindanao), has criticized the ongoing project development at Maa hills.  The developers are Crown Asia owned by real estate magnate and presidentiable Sen. Manuel Villar, and the David M. Consunji Urban Property Developers, Inc. (DMC-UPDI). Both were granted the Preliminary Approval and Locational Clearance (PALC) on November 26, 2008 by the SP. The companies are awaiting the approval of its development permit.

Crown Asia gets 30 hectares in the south side of the hills while DMC-UPDI gets another 30 hectares in the north side. These corporate housing developers in Maa Hills have started making roads from the Maa highway to the hills even without a Development Permit. 

Kadamay also hit the government’s current market-oriented housing policy, making it easy for the developers to own and “develop” subdivisions for profit insensitive to and disregarding possible consequences to the poor and the environment. 

“We call on the people of Maa to actively oppose the corporate housing developers from pursuing the projects in Maa Hills. We also ask the local government unit of Davao City to exercise its powers to protect the integrity of the ecosystem of Maa Hills and the welfare of the people," Buhayan concluded.