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Hanjin's condo project inspected ahead of joint Senate hearing in Subic


MANILA, Philippines - Members of a joint Senate committee on Friday conducted an on-site investigation on the worth $20-million condominium project being undertaken by a Korean-owned company inside a protected site at the Subic Freeport. A radio report said that Senators inspected the controversial multi-level, high-rise condominium being constructed by Hanjin Heavy Industries, as part of an investigation on whether environmental laws and zoning regulations were violated in the construction of the 184-unit apartment complex inside the Subic Bay Watershed and Forest Reserve. The Senate investigation is being conducted jointly by the Committees on Environment and Natural Resources; Government Corporations and Public Enterprises; and Urban Planning, Housing, and Resettlement. Before noon Friday, senators will be holding a joint Senate committee hearing at the Subic Bay Management Authority (SBMA) building. The project earned criticisms from politicians and environmentalists alike, who said an environment compliance certificate should not have been issued for a project that allegedly encroaches into a forested area. Zubiri had earlier slammed the Korean firm for relocating displaced tribal communities in “inferior structures and danger zones." Also, Zubiri feared that the project is plagued with several environmental issues including the cutting off of trees from a forested area, the health hazards posed on the Subic watershed, and the destruction to habitat and biodiversity in the area. Administration ally Gordon had belied Zubiri’s claim of trees being chopped off, saying there were no trees cut when he visited the site in early April. The SBMA had also repeatedly insisted that the site is not within the ‘zero development zone’ and falls within the area zoned for low impact projects. For its part, the Korean Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines had said that the two-building, multi-level housing project can generate some 10,000 jobs. Hanjin began the construction of the twin towers in July 2007 and slated the completion in June. - Mark Merueñas, GMANews.TV
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