City legal officer sees no problem donating SRP lot

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Legal Office finds no legal impediment to donate a parcel of land at the South Road Properties (SRP) to the Commission on Audit.

City Legal Officer Rey Gealon has recommended before the City Council to give Mayor Edgardo Labella the authority to sign a Deed of Donation in favor of the COA. Gealon said that upon review of the draft deed to be signed by Labella and COA chairman Michael Aguinaldo, his office finds the terms and conditions to be within the bounds of the law. 

"In view thereof, it is our considered view that, subject to the full details of the lot subject thereof, there is no legal impediment for the issuance of the necessary Sangguniang Panlungsod Resolution authorizing the City Mayor to enter, sign and/or execute the attached proposed draft Deed of Donation," the legal opinion reads.

Gealon said the terms are not contrary to law, morals, good customs, public order and public policy. Although it was not specified in the proposed deed the subject lot, but it was stated that the property is not currently utilized by the city and that there are no tenants or settlers therein.

"The vision of the mayor is to establish a government center in SRP where all government agencies will be concentrated in one area in order to facilitate expeditious government transactions," said Gealon.

COA officer-in-charge Marilou Rizarri earlier manifested to Labella their intention to occupy a portion of SRP in the area where the supposed government center is to be built.  FPL (FREEMAN)