Council forms team to assist mayor in Capitol lots problem

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council has created an adhoc committee to “assist” Mayor Tomas Osmeña in resolving the long overdue issue on Provincial Ordinance 93-1.

In its regular session yesterday, the body approved the resolution of Councilor Joel Garganera naming Councilors Jose Daluz,III, Raymond Alvin Garcia, Jocelyn Pesquera, Jerry Guardo, and Phillip Zafra as members of the adhoc committee.

“The ADHOC Committee 93-1…will be tasked to evaluate, assess and peruse the details of the 93-1 controversy, to meet and report regularly, analyze and formulate possible options and finally recommend to the Sangguniang Panlungsod to assist the Mayor, for the most viable and acceptable terms and conditions in the negotiations for the 93-1 solution,” read the approved resolution.

Daluz heads the council’s committee on social services and housing; Garcia, committee on laws;  Pesquera, committee on budget and finance; Guardo, committee on urban planning and infrastructure; and Zafra, committee on barangay affairs.

“The local government units of Cebu City and the Cebu Province have long been entangled over a controversy affecting over 4,000 families of Cebu City constituents occupying the province-owned lots covered under Provincial Ordinance 93-1 passed in 1993,” Garganera said.

The 51 hectares covered by Ordinance 93-1 are subdivided to 4,364 home lots in 11 different barangays,namely: Kamputhaw, Capitol Site, Kalunasan, Busay, Luz, Lahug, Mabolo, Apas, Lorega  San Miguel, Kasambagan, and Tejero.

The provincial ordinance was aimed at providing a scheme for constituents of the city government to pay monthly to own the property that they are occupying.

Only 1,445 of the 4,364 home lots, however, have been fully paid for; 1,188 have been partially paid for; while 1,731 have not been paid for at all.

Garganera said the city government has appropriated at least P450 million under the 2013 and 2015 Annual Budgets for possible acquisition and development of the 93-1 lots.

“Cognizant of the complexities of the 93-1 concern, it is expedient towards a feasible and advantageous solution that the Sangguniang Panlungsod be abreast and apprised of the comprehensive current status of the 93-1 problem,” he said. (FREEMAN)