Ateneo vs SMDC Blue Residences

[Monseratto]

Ateneo is up in arms against the ongoing 42 storey condo buiding of the Henry Sy-led SMDC. The Quezon City Council suspiciously approved a zoning exemption for this gargatuan project in one day...





http://www.theguidon.com/2011/06/05/...nces-tomorrow/

Ateneans to lobby against Blue Residences tomorrow
by Katerina D. Francisco on June 5, 2011

In a show of opposition against Shoemart Development Corporation (SMDC)’s Blue Residences, Ateneans are preparing to lobby to 18 Quezon City councilors tomorrow, pushing for the revocation of the city council resolution that allowed the project to materialize.

The Loyola Heights community, including the Ateneo, contends that the project was granted an exemption to zoning regulations by the 17th Quezon City council without going through the necessary legal procedures.

As part of the ongoing efforts against the project, Sanggunian President Drew Copuyoc asked the Ateneo community through a Facebook note posted last June 3 to assemble at the Quezon City Hall during the flag-raising ceremony tomorrow at 8:00 AM, which will be attended by city officials.

Explaining the planned action, Copuyoc wrote, “We will… show them that, as Ateneans with the rest of the [Loyola Heights] community, we are serious in our bid to push for a revocation of the zoning requirement exemption given to SMDC for the Blue Residences.”

“We are committed to ensuring that our government is just and accountable in its governance,” he said.

SMDC and the Loyola Heights community had tried to resolve the issue through dialogues, but no fruitful outcome has been attained.

According to Council of Organizations of the Ateneo (COA) President Ken Abante, several COA organizations—such as the Ateneo Christian Life Community, Ateneo Student Catholic Action and The Assembly—have also written letters to district councilors, asking them to support an ordinance that will revoke the exemption granted to SMDC. Eighteen councilors from Quezon City districts 1, 3 and 4 are being targeted in the lobbying effort in order to get their support for the said ordinance.

Other student groups involved in efforts against the Blue Residences include the Christian Union for Socialist and Democratic Advancement, the Ateneo Resident Students Association, the League of Independent Organizations and the school boards of all four Loyola Schools.