What is the problem with the Monterrazas of Slater Young? Here’s what the expert said.
The Monterrazas project of Slater Young allegedly contributed to the severe flooding in Cebu, and an expert said this before about it.
Cebu has just experienced its worst flood triggered by Typhoon Tino, and many people are assuming that among the greatest contributors to this is the high-end development project by Slater Young called The Rise at Monterrazas.
Ever since this was launched, it has been under public scrutiny due to the environmental impacts of this huge project.
Is the Monterrazas project truly sustainable? In a previous article, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) released a statement. The DENR’s statement about Monterraza assured the people that this will be under investigation by various agencies to determine whether or not this has violated regulations.
They will be conducting a comprehensive on-site investigation to determine whether the project complied with the following:
- the project’s compliance with the conditions of its ECC and other environmental regulations
- the effectiveness of its drainage, slope protection, and runoff management systems
- the stability of slopes and potential risks of landslides and flooding
- possible alterations to the natural landform and proximity to timberland areas
- evidence of erosion, siltation, or obstructions in nearby tributaries and waterways
Amid the buzz it created again, an expert cited the concerns and problems that may arise from this project. Two years ago, an expert talked about this based on a report from Philstar.
Joshua Agar, a wind engineer and assistant professor at the UP Institute of Civil Engineering. He described this as a “disconnect” between developments intended for the wealthy and those aimed at serving ordinary citizens.
Citing the World Sustainable Built Environment Conference in 2017, the perception in the Philippines and Europe regarding sustainability and site considerations is far different from each other.
The project’s Banaue Rice Terraces inspiration may increase “topographic amplification.” The main concern is how the forces acting on the building will be transferred back to the mountain, in accordance with Newton’s third law of motion.
“The analysis only considered that the ground motion of the mountain due to an earthquake will transmit forces to the structure,” he said, and added, “Since it is embedded on a mountain, this should require a soil-structure-soil interaction analysis, not a mere structural analysis.”
Agar explained that as inertial forces intensify the stresses within the soil, the building could exceed safety limits, particularly when it is anchored across the entire mountainside.
“Given that the building may experience stronger forces than the conventional design, you may expect glass breakage, debris, and other projectiles to bring danger to the occupants,” he added, regarding the effectiveness of its non-structural components.
Agar suggested:
- Limit the building footprint
- Construct the building vertically
- Conduct wind tunnel testing
- Apply the base isolation technique.
What can you say about this? Let us know in the comments!