Judicial complex at SRP approved

CEBU, Philippines —  A judiciary complex in Cebu City will soon rise at the South Road Properties as the City Council passed an ordinance transferring ownership of 15,000-square meter to the Supreme Court (SC) of the Philippines.

During its last regular session of the year, the legislative body approved Councilor Sisinio Andales’ proposed ordinance transferring ownership of a property at SRP to the SC for the construction of the P1.5-billion complex.

“The City of Cebu led by Mayor Tomas Osmeña recognized the need for a new location for an iconic Hall of Justice and supportive of the judiciary’s infrastructure development program; had agreed to donate a larger lot than the SRP lot at the proposed Government Center at SRP, located at the southwest part of the SRP,” read portion of the approved ordinance.

The complex is designed to house in one roof all the courts in the city, including the trial court branches, the Court of Appeals (CA), a hearing room for the Sandiganbayan, and offices for the SC.

“There is a need to build a new and iconic Hall of Justice in Cebu City, which is envisioned to be part of a Judiciary Complex that will house all the courts in Cebu City,” said Andales.

The ordinance was approved on December 4, 2018 without discussions and objections from other members of the council.

In 2010, the city government also donated 7,123-square meter lot at northeast side of SRP to the CA.

The magnitude 7.2 quake that struck Bohol and Cebu on October 15, 2013 damaged P2.3 billion worth of public infrastructure, about P819 million of it in Cebu. Among the damaged infrastructures was the Palace of Justice inside the Capitol compound.

The Palace of Justice was deemed unfit for occupancy after suffering serious damage from the quake.

In 2014, the Cebu City’s courts were transferred to Qimonda following the order of former SC chief justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno.

To recall, SC Administrator Jose Midas Marquez told members of the City Council that they will start processing for the construction of the complex within the first quarter of 2019.

Andales said SC has manifested that the donated 7,123-square meter property will be given back to the city government once the city will issue the new Certificate of Title of the 15,000-square meter property  or Lot 9 of the Consolidated Subdivision Plan. — KBQ (FREEMAN)