POL112 – PROBLEMS IN LOCAL GOV’T AND ADMIN

Zoning Ordinance in Quezon City

Powers and Functions of the Philippine National Police

Dr. Maria Myriam B. Bacud

QUEZON CITY ZONING ORDINANCE

WHAT IS A ZONING ORDINANCE?

Written regulations and laws that define how property in specific geographic zones can be used. Zoning ordinancesspecify whether zones can be used for residential or commercial purposes, and may also regulate lot size, placement,bulk (or density) and the height of structures.

WHAT ISTHE PURPOSE OF ZONING?

Zoning is a key tool to implement comprehensive and development plans in all communities. Zoning ordinances are also often used to regulate the appearance and aesthetic objectives of the community.

WHAT IS IN A ZONING ORDINANCE?

Zoning Ordinances contain two parts: text and a zoning map.

Quezon City’s

ZONING MAPDistricts I-VI

R1 – Low-density Residential Zone

At least 58 high-rise commercial and residential buildings in the city of Manila have been illegally constructed in

violation of the zoning ordinance, city officials disclosed.

A report created by the ad hoc committee of the city council identified the developers who erected the buildings

without the required zoning locational clearance:

Suntrust Properties Inc.-Suntrust Parkview, Pacific Aviles Realty Corporation, City and Land Development, Inc., Data Land, Inc., Century

Peak Property Development Inc., East Asia Land Properties, Inc., New San Jose Builders, Inc., Avida Land Corporation, Amaia Land

Corporation,Vista Residences, DMCI Project Developers, Inc. and Eton Properties Philippines, Incorporated

The ad hoc committee, chaired by Third District Councilor Ernesto C. Isip Jr., blamed the non-compliance of

developers on former building official and City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) head Engineer Melvin

Q. Balagot. The officials said Balagot was “remiss in his obligation to ensure faithful compliance and

implementation of Ordinance No. 8119.”

Although some of the developers were able to secure a zoning permit, its issuance is invalid considering that the

developers violated the Percentage of Land Occupancy and Floor Area Ratio (PLO/FAR) provisions of the

ordinance which restricts the Land Use Intensity Control ratings for a type of building in a certain zone.

“If all developers were allowed to construct buildings without following the stringent requirements of Ordinance

No. 8119, the City of Manila would be unable to ensure the health and safety of building occupants as well as

impose control on traffic generation, requirements on utilities, over-building, over-crowding, visual access, disaster

risk management and the desired zone character within the city,” the report said.

To avoid fines and penalties, the committee said the erring developers must file for a written application for an

exception with the Manila Zoning Board of Adjustment Appeals (MZBAA) within 10 days upon receipt of the

notice of violation.

PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICEPOWERS AND FUNCTIONS

PNP: POWERS AND FUNCTIONS

STATUTORY POWER OFTHE POLICE:

To enforce laws and ordinances relative to the protection of lives and properties;

To maintain peace and order and take all necessary steps to ensure public safety;

To investigate and prevent crime, effect the arrest of criminal offenders, bring offenders to justice and assist in their

prosecution;

To detain arrested person/s for a period not beyond what is prescribed by law; and,

To exercise the general powers to make arrest, search and seizure and enforce pertinent laws.

PNP: POWERS AND FUNCTIONS

LICENSING, SUPERVISORYAND CONTROL,ANDTRAINING:

To issue licenses for the possession of firearms and explosives in accordance with the law;

To supervise and control the training and operations of security agencies and issue license to operate

security agencies, and to security guards and private detectives for the practice of their profession;

To train students taking up their baccalaureate, vocational or technical courses in undergoing Law

Enforcement Service Program in compliance to the National Service Law.

PNP: POWERS AND FUNCTIONS

DEPUTIZED STATUTORY POWER OF THE POLICE TO PERFORM SUCH OTHER

DUTIESAND EXERCISEALL OTHER FUNCTIONSAS MAYBE PROVIDED BY LAW:

To enforce election laws during the conduct of election;

To enforce laws on agriculture, environment and natural resources;

To enforce laws on land transportation; and,

To enforce other laws under the jurisdiction of various departments and/or offices of the government where

the PNP is deputized under the principle of intra-coordination between and among offices/departments of

the government.