Where subdivision guardhouse stood: Residents say city doesn’t own the lot

CEBU, Philippines — Concerned homeowners of Beverly Hills in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City, expressed their disappointment over the demolition of the guardhouse to officially open the access road inside the subdivision. They also demanded the city show the title of the lot the guardhouse was on.

Yesterday, the Cebu City government implemented a clearing operation of the Beverly Hills’ toll gate on the grounds that it is allegedly owned by the city government.

On the same day, some homeowners who asked not to be named expressed their disappointment on what happened. They said they have kept their silence for so long.

They explained that the lot where the demolished guardhouse was on was privately owned by the heirs of Eddie Woolbright, the American entrepreneur who planned and developed the Beverly Hills subdivision.

“That is not donated. That is accurate,” one of them said.

It was reported last October 13, 2023 that Cebu City Councilor Pastor Alcover requested a ?10-million allocation for the proposed expropriation of a portion in Beverly Hills following concerns on its road closure that barred non-residents of the subdivision from passing through.

In his privilege speech during the regular session, Alcover laid down the proposal that could lead to the opening of road access at Beverly Hills. He said that as stated in the deed of donation that he brought with him during the session, the said road from Gate 1 to Gate 2 until the Taoist Temple is a city-owned road.

But the homeowners said the deed of donation of the road Alcover mentioned is still under the Beverly Hills Corp.

“All the road maps are under Beverly Hills Corp.,” they said, adding that they already reported this information and are waiting for action.

For them, a court order should have been shown during the demolition, instead, they were reportedly shown an order from the Office of the Mayor.

The same homeowners said that the city government is just under the assumption that the whole road access is owned by the city government.

“Wala lang silay court order, mao na among arguments,” they also said.

One of them said they felt “harassed” during the demolition while another said he wanted to file a complaint in his personal capacity as a homeowner.

The homeowners also said that they just wanted to see the title of the city government and they would have followed orders. — (FREEMAN)