Biz Buzz: Condo wars redux

The raging dispute over the future of the posh Urdaneta Apartments on the corner of Ayala Ave. and Edsa—the country’s first high-rise condo—is now out in the open, with the other party of the dispute airing its side to Biz Buzz over the weekend.

Apparently, the whole fight among the unit owners (whose surnames read like the list of Philippine elite’s who’s who) started with a simple dispute over the installation of a sprinkler system.

We’re told, in fact, that officials and members of the board of directors of the Urdaneta Apartments Condominium Association now face civil and criminal charges for reversing the meeting agenda items to prioritize waterproofing and painting over the installation of a required fire sprinkler system.

In a case filed by some unit owners against their association officials, the unit owners said they found out almost a year later that four of the five board members had waterproofing problems that they—not the association—must have repaired themselves.

The association would pay for such repairs only if they involved structural issues and common areas.

The complainants, led by nonagenarian billionaire Dr. Daniel Vazquez, wanted the sprinkler system prioritized since Makati fire officials had warned the association of penalties for noncompliance and for the safety of the residents.

But the association, in a meeting in November 2013, instead decided to waterproof and paint the building first despite several objections. The decision was not put to a vote. The officials ignored subsequent written requests for information, the complaint said.

It was only three months later, in February 2014, that the association conducted a survey to really find out if there was a waterproofing need. The survey showed that of the 56 units in the building, only 33 had this problem, of which 23 were window-related, meaning it was the unit owners who must pay for the repair, the complaint said.

Regarding the sprinkler system, the association was able to get the Makati fire officials to agree to an October 2015 compliance deadline. The warning was issued in March 2012.

The complaint also asked the court to stop the association officials from making Vazquez and all unit owners to pay for their legal defense. The defendants are Carolyn Butler, Jose Santiago Picornell Jr., Ma. Lourdes Senn, Violeta Gallego, Fausto Preysler and building administrator Mark Nocon.

Of course, given that neither side of the condo war seems to be in a conciliatory mood, we expect to hear more about this. Watch this space, people. Daxim L. Lucas

Kangaroo court?

A newly created government agency seems to be the favorite go-to venue of one faction of the Aquino administration when they want certain officials of state-run corporations removed.

And why would the members of this particular faction of the Aquino administration want to remove certain officials of certain government-owned and -controlled corporations? Well, sometimes the motive could be as simple as them not liking the officials. Or sometimes the officials (having more experience running things) do not bend easily to the wills of their higher ups.

In any case, this newly created state watchdog is run by a five-member commission, two members of which belong to the aforementioned faction of the Aquino administration. The chair of the agency is a personal choice of a powerful Cabinet secretary, as is one of the commissioners. The fifth commissioner is known to be an ally of the senior lawmaker who had a direct hand in crafting the law that created this watchdog agency.

(Incidentally, this agency head also has ties with one powerful businessman because his wife is the president of a university up north and this university just happens to be chaired by this powerful businessman. But that’s another story.)

What worries some observers is that this new government agency is turning into a kangaroo court where appointed officials to state firms are summarily recommended for removal if the the agency’s officials see fit.

So what’s the worry of observers? If you’re an official from a state-run firm and you don’t follow the whims of one particular side of the Aquino Cabinet … prepare to be investigated by this agency. Already, at least one power sector official has been “unduly investigated” and recommended for replacement.

So they’re now asking: Has this agency now replaced the Office of the Ombudsman where appointees to state firms are tried summarily? Is this part of their mandate? Daxim L. Lucas

Not sharing

The Gokongwei Group’s Cebu Pacific would have to wait longer before getting slots in Tokyo, Japan’s Haneda Airport, coveted because of its proximity to the capital district versus Narita International Airport that it currently uses.

Philippine Airlines, which holds all 14 weekly flying rights to Haneda but was not using them all up, is planning to increase flights there, we heard.

The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) has the right to reassign frequencies if they remain unused for a period of six months, which in the case of PAL-Haneda, is in November.

PAL, meanwhile, is not stopping with that and will likely increase frequencies to the North Asian economy. The carrier has already announced the opening of Nagoya and Osaka routes via Cebu next month.

Our sources say the PAL is now studying the use of so-called fifth freedom rights to fly to other points in Japan, like the aforementioned Osaka and Nagoya, using Narita. Interesting. Miguel R. Camus

Uber’s winning ways

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) officials continue to scratch their heads over how to deal with Uber and other taxi-like services that use social media, mobile phones and cheap Internet to give people safe and relatively affordable rides around the metropolis.

Despite the threat of regulation, these services continue to innovate in areas where other modes of transport have failed, especially in the Philippines.

Last week, Uber Philippines quietly launched its partnership with Wheelmobile to provide wheel chair-accessible cars for customers. Wheelmobile is a non-profit organization that aims to raise awareness of the mobility, dignity and equality for people with disabilities (PWD). The Wheelmobile services were available from Nov. 6 to 10. Whether Uber plans to expand this partnership remains to be seen, but it’s a good start, especially for a country where escalators and elevators at train stations are as reliable as the trains themselves (read: not at all).

Fortunately, the transportation department has become more friendly with Uber and other services like it. Last month, the LTFRB wanted to classify Uber cars as taxis, but the DOTC’s most recent statement said the “vehicle-for-hire” category may be more appropriate. New rules will also be crafted to accommodate technology-enabled services. Paolo Montecillo

GSIS’ art collection

Contrary to attributed statements which he said had been taken out of context, Government Service Insurance System president Robert Vergara said he did not see the pension fund being in a rush to liquidate its vast artwork collection of more than 100 pieces now displayed at the National Museum.

At some point in time, there might be a good market for these art pieces and at that stage, the level of valuation might be suitable to realize gains from these, Vergara said. “But for the moment I don’t see it happening, not in the next five or 10 years,” he said.

But neither is the GSIS keen on adding to the collection as the pension fund was prioritizing asset classes that meets the basic requirements of liquidity, safety and yield.

Where the GSIS intends to strike while the iron is hot is in the property market. After some record-breaking property deals recently, GSIS plans to bid out more property assets by the first quarter of next year. Among those considered to be put on the auction block next is the 18,000-square meter prime property at the corner of Doña Julia Vargas and Meralco avenues in Ortigas, which is currently used by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), as an impounding area.

“That’s quite big. That will be a very big-ticket [item],” he said. Doris C. Dumlao

E-mail us at [email protected]. Get business alerts and a preview of Biz Buzz the evening before it comes out. Text ON INQ BUSINESS to 4467 (P2.50/alert).