Manila Mayor Isko Moreno has ordered the immediate closure of a construction site in Sta. Cruz after discovering that a basketball court, a daycare center, and a senior citizens’ office were demolished to give way to the “Sentro Komunidad de Santa Cruz” project.
During his inspection on August 21, Moreno expressed outrage, saying the project—located at the corner of Alvarez Street and Rizal Avenue—was carried out without permits from the city government. He also instructed the Manila Police District to padlock the site, which he said is city property, and to seize heavy equipment including a bulldozer and a dump truck.
“How were they able to proceed without a permit? Why did they demolish the properties of the city government of Manila?” Moreno asked, stressing that elderly residents had complained of being forced out of the area by the contractor. He directly challenged District 3 Rep. Joel Chua, asking: “Can you build without a building permit? Can you demolish without a demolition permit?”
Chua, however, distanced himself from the controversy, insisting that the project was initiated by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and funded through the General Appropriations Act. In a strongly worded statement, he accused Moreno of staging theatrics during the inspection: “Galit-galitan, nakakunot ang noo, lakad na parang may susugurin, drama-drama sa harap ng mga nag-uusyoso. Lahat po yan para lang siraan ang inyong lingkod, lituhin ang mga tao, at harangin ang isang legal at makabuluhang proyektong wala naman siyang kinalaman.”
Chua explained that the four-story community center will house a daycare, library, sports facilities, dialysis center, halfway house for the homeless, an office for senior citizens, and an evacuation center. He maintained he had “nothing to do with the bidding and the choice of contractor,” adding: “If Mayor Isko is really brave, he should bark at the national government and the DPWH, and not at me.”
The heated dispute underscores the worsening rift between Moreno and Chua, once allies, whose ties fractured after Moreno’s victory over former mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan, a candidate supported by Chua, in the May 12 midterm elections.
