SCUTTLEBUTT

Greenhills East tumult

“We’re not anti-progress. We’re anti-chaos.”

Residents of Greenhills East Village are drawing a bold line, launching a formal protest against a proposed high-rise by Shang Properties Inc. (SPI) that they say threatens the peace, safety and livability of their neighborhood as it allegedly violates both zoning laws and the spirit of Mandaluyong City’s policies.

The contested site? A 6,511-square-meter lot along Ortigas Avenue, right beside La Salle Green Hills, within Mandaluyong’s Barangay Wack-Wack, and just a few meters from the San Juan border.

SPI’s planned development, reportedly a multi-tower condominium complex, comes with a projected nine-year construction timeline — a red flag for residents who say the prolonged disruption poses serious risks to children, senior citizens, and the broader school zone ecosystem.

But this isn’t just a case of NIMBY (Not In My Backyard). Residents have receipts — and they’re holding Mayor Carmelita “Menchie” Abalos to her standards.

In their petition, the residents cite the Green Building Ordinance (No. 709, s. 2018) and the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (2017–2032), both enacted under Abalos’s leadership. These policies emphasize health, sustainability, and inclusive growth.

“Is a nine-year construction site beside a school child-friendly?” asked one concerned parent, referencing Mandaluyong’s accolades for child-sensitive governance. “Is it green? Is it even necessary?”

The opposition isn’t just noise—it’s backed by a formal resolution from the Greenhills East Village Association (GEVA).

Citing Board Resolution 2025-07 passed on 23 July 2025, GEVA has resolved to strictly enforce height limits for any new commercial construction within the village: six stories or 18 meters for C-2A zones, and 10 stories or 30 meters for C-2B zones, per Ordinance 664 s. 2017. No exceptions.

The resolution stresses that any development which “increases the occupancy for each lot to more than 15 persons, inclusive of employees,” will be rejected. The board also empowered the association president to oppose all non-compliant construction and establish a committee to study population density and urban sustainability in the area.

The resolution notes that Mandaluyong—and Metro Manila at large—has fallen into a trap: approving massive developments with little regard for road capacity, air quality, or sewage infrastructure. With four malls and four schools already within a 500-meter radius, residents say adding another vertical village will tip the scales from livable to nightmarish.

A line from the resolution reads:

“Extraordinary population density or overcrowding, brought about by competition for space in the scarce area of the district, is to be avoided.”

Or, as one resident bluntly put it: “We’re drowning in diesel, delivery trucks, and double-parking. What part of overcapacity is hard to get?”

This cross-city resistance could mark a turning point in Metro Manila’s long-tolerated culture of “development at all costs.” The residents’ petition calls on Mayor Abalos not just to acknowledge the project, but to uphold her administration’s promise of planned, responsible urban growth.

“We’re not saying no to development,” said a resident. “We’re saying yes to smart, humane, law-abiding development. There’s a difference.”