On P18 billion Kawit project: Osmeña willing to yield to opposition’s demand

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said he was willing to delete the provisions of the amended Joint Venture Agreement in question if he was allowed to talk before the City Council during its regular session last Tuesday.

The mayor attended the session but was not allowed to talk since it needs two-thirds vote of the City Council to suspend the house rules and accommodate a non-member.

“I was going to talk and will tell them we will lift those three objections. But they won’t let me talk. They won’t allow me to talk,” Osmeña said.

Councilor Jose Daluz III raised his concerns on the provisions of the revised Joint Venture Agreement which are allegedly contrary to some of the provisions. Daluz cited the foreshore lease item as they already agreed that the city will not give the reclamation rights to the Universal Hotels and Resorts, Inc. which will develop the P18-billion project on Kawit Island.

He said the city should make it clear whether it will collect taxes from the UHRI or only the gross rental share.

Daluz also wants to know the value of the nine-hectare Kawit Island that will be leased by the UHRI for 50 years and will be extended upon mutual agreement by both parties.

Sought for comment, Osmeña said the valuation of the city’s property is no longer needed since the sharing scheme will depend on the sales of the UHRI, adding that the city is just leasing out its property. Once the sales go up every year, he said the city government will get more share from them.

He said he was willing to amend the provisions of the contract right then and there to get the City Council’s approval for him to sign the contract with UHRI. He said he is in favor to delete the provisions that were questioned by the opposition.

“The objection about foreshore lands, taxes –these are not important issues. As a matter of fact, I’m in favor. I can lift those issues. But they don’t like, not that they don’t like. They’re finding excuses,” he said.

The mayor believes that the members of the opposition in the City Council will block the project which will be a good point for his administration.

“They will block this project all the way. They will lose the elections so they will stall it as much as possible,” he added.

As of now, the City Council is composed of nine members from the opposition while eight members from the administration. Osmeña said he will just ask the help of the people in the barangay to help him break the tie in the City Council by supporting his candidates for barangay captain and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on May 14.

Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella said the opposition is not against the project but they have to uphold the mandate of the legislative to maintain the check and balance.

City Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia said the “good project” will be approved once the legislative body would review the revised contract and if it is advantageous to the city government. Garcia said he is hoping that the city’s executive will give them a chance to look into the amended contract.

The Council’s ad hoc committee which scrutinized the proposal will meet within the week to review the proposed P18 billion Kawit Island development project consisting of the construction of a commercial or shopping center, integrated resort, casino facilities, hotels, and parking facilities, among others. —  FPL (FREEMAN)