Addition Hills Homeowners Win Against Developer Who Tried to Build a 15-Story Tower in Their Village — Court Nullifies Zoning Approvals
The residents of Addition Hills in Mandaluyong City have scored a major legal victory against property developer Wee Community Developers Inc. (WCDI), which tried to construct a 15-story mixed-use building in their residential village. The Human Settlements Adjudication Commission (HSAC) not only stopped the project but also ordered the developer to pay at least ₱250,000 in attorney's fees.
The Addition Hills North Homeowners' Association Inc. argued that the proposed tower violated the city's zoning ordinance — and the HSAC agreed. The commission declared as null and void the 2021 and 2022 resolutions of Mandaluyong's Local Zoning Board of Adjustment and Appeals that had previously approved the project.
What sealed the case was the commission's finding of serious irregularities in the developer's paperwork. Six of the eight "adjacent residents" listed by WCDI as supporters of the project turned out to be mere employees of the company's partner, Property Community of Friends Inc. (Profriends). In other words, the developer's supposed community support was fabricated.
For the homeowners of Addition Hills, this decision is validation after years of fighting. Residential neighborhoods across Metro Manila have been under increasing pressure from developers seeking zoning exemptions to build high-rises in areas designated for low- to medium-density housing. This ruling sends a clear message: zoning laws exist for a reason.
The case also exposes how local zoning boards can be manipulated. If the HSAC hadn't caught the fake "adjacent residents," a 15-story tower would now be under construction in a quiet residential village. Para sa mga homeowners association na nag-aalala sa ganito — this case is your blueprint. Lumaban kayo, at may justice naman pala.
Source: PhilStar
