Council allows Tomas to sell SRP lots

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council has authorized Mayor Tomas Osmeña to sell at least three hectares of land at the South Road Properties.

Thirteen councilors, majority of whom are Osmeña’s allies, voted to sell but four chose to abstain from voting, questioning the legality of disposing of the properties. 

The four are Councilors Raymond Alvin Garcia, Joel Garganera, Jocelyn Pesquera, and Pastor “Jun” Alcover Jr.

Those who supported the sale were Councilors Nendell Abella, Jerry Guardo, Mary Ann Delos Santos, David Tumulak, Alvin Arcilla, Eugenio Gabuya Jr., Margarita “Margot Osmeña, Augustus “Joy” Young, and Sisinio Andales along with Barug Team Rama affiliated councilors Eduardo Rama, Jose Daluz III, James Anthony Cuenco, and ex-officio Phillip Zafra.

It was Abella who authored the proposed ordinance to allow Osmeña to sell the lots.

MODE

Garcia stood firm on his stand that it does not need an ordinance to authorize the mayor to dispose of the lots. He said a resolution would suffice.

He pointed out if an ordinance is mandatory, all other transactions of the city in the past which were implemented through a resolution should be considered illegal.

“Not so long ago, we disposed of two hectares of land at SRP in exchange of 93-1 through resolution. What does it mean?” Garcia said.

Abella explained that in case of the sale, an ordinance is necessary as the sale will undergo public bidding.

Abella said an ordinance is a legal protection for the future buyer of the property to avoid disputes.

The ordinance was a supplement to mother Ordinance 2332 known as the “Protecting the SRP and its Stakeholders from Unlawful and Unauthorized Transactions and Dealings.”

It was passed on July 18, 2012.

Bidding

Terms and conditions say the property shall be sold through public bidding.

The initial bid and the final purchase price for the property, whether in whole or in part, shall be at least P110, 000 per square meter, net of applicable taxes, or the total amount of P3,300,000,000 for the entire property.

The ordinance stipulates that the three hectares at the SRP include Lot 1-F-8-A with an area of 25,769 square meters; Lot 1-H-1 with an area of 3,349 square meters; and Pond F with a total land area of 29,118 square meters more or less.

Qualified bidders must be Filipino citizens who are not otherwise disqualified by law to acquire real property in the Philippines and partnerships, corporations and other legal entities duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Payment shall be made in full or in two installments, which shall at least be 50 percent upon signing of the sale documents pursuant to the public auction and 50 percent upon approval of the Commission on Audit. (FREEMAN)