Proposed Kamagayan covered court hits snag

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Legal Office has recommended to the Office of the Mayor to deny the request of Kamagayan Barangay Captain Raquel Avila for the barangay to construct a covered court on a city-owned lot in the barangay.

City Legal Office head Atty. Rey Gealon said he has coordinated with Atty. Jose Daluz III, special assistant to the mayor, on the request of Avila.

“It is recommended for the Office of the City Mayor to deny the request of Brgy. Captain Avila and inform her of the city’s plan on said lot that will benefit not only her constituents but also other beneficiaries of the city Socialized Housing Program,” Gealon said in the legal opinion.

Gealon said Daluz told him that the executive department should object on the application for building permit of the construction of covered court.

While the city has yet to look for funds for the medium-rise building on the lot, Gealon said Daluz informed him that the barangay may be allowed to use the lot under its present condition.

The lot sits near the V-hire terminal in the barangay.

Avila, in her request, asked authority from the Office of the Mayor for the barangay to use the city-owned lot to construct a covered court which would also be used as an evacuation center and activities center.

She said the authority and approval from the Office of the Mayor are needed for the processing of a building permit before the city’s Office of the Building Official since the city owns the lot.

The Office of the Mayor had referred the matter to the City Legal Office for its comments and recommendations.

Gealon said the barangay may continue to operate the terminal there but not construct a covered court.

He reiterated that it is one of the sites being eyed for the proposed construction of another medium-rise tenement building for qualified marginalized constituents of Cebu City, especially the nearby residents.

“The marching order of the Mayor is to seriously support his administration's socialized housing program under the Gasa sa Paglaum project. In that light, the CLO has to deny the request of Brgy Kamagayan to construct a covered court in the premises of the temporary terminal there,” Gealon said. (FREEMAN)