New city, Capitol execs to meet today

CEBU, Philippines — Newly-elected officials in Cebu City and province are set to meet today to discuss “cooperative governance and borderless issues.”

Mayor-elect Edgardo Labella told The Freeman that it was a mutual agreement between him and governor-elect Gwendolyn Garcia to meet and discuss. 

“We will have a meeting tomorrow (today, Saturday) together with other officials of the city and the province. It’s a welcome development because we will start talking about how we could work together especially about Metro Cebu,” Labella said yesterday.

Board Members, councilors, and congressmen are also expected to attend the meeting this afternoon.

There is reportedly no formal agenda set but Labella said the meeting will most likely tackle issues on traffic, flooding, and the land swap deal between the city and province.

As far as the land swap deal is concerned, outgoing governor Hilario Davide III and outgoing mayor Tomas Osmeña have signed the Deed of Donation and Acceptance to legally transfer the lots involved in the 93-1 land swap deal.

The deal provides a scheme for Cebu City residents to pay monthly amortization for them to own the province-owned lots that they have occupied for several years.

The deal covers 51 hectares of property subdivided to at least 4,364 home lots in 11 barangays in Cebu City, including Kamputhaw, Capitol Site, Kalunasan, Busay, Luz, Lahug, Mabolo, Apas, Lorega, Kasambagan, and Tejero.

Despite the Deed of Donation and Acceptance signed, Labella said there are other aspects that the city and province need to settle, including how residents should pay the province and what should be done in case a piece of land has been sold.

“We can work out the traffic problem and everything that pertains to our beloved city and the province of Cebu. Everything that is beneficial for all of us atong ipadayon. This is just the beginning,” he said.

Labella said it is important that the city works with the province because issues like traffic and flooding, among others, can be dealt with best when local government units come together. —  JMO (FREEMAN)