CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Councilor Raymond Garcia is again pushing for the city government to pay the rental of a former KTV bar which the city has been using for free since last year as halfway house for battered women and children
Garcia sponsored a resolution authorizing Mayor Edgardo Labella to enter into a contract of lease with Alpha Real Estate from July to December 2021 for the rental of the Santa Rita Building in Barangay Kasambagan at P350,000 per month.
Opposition Councilor Lea Japson opposed the resolution and questioned the need for the city government to rent a halfway house. She said she had already made arrangements to transfer these battered women and children to a facility run by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Despite the opposition from the minority bloc, the City Council approved the resolution but only for the period from July to October. The majority of the members agreed to pay the rental for four months considering that the city has been using the facility since last year.
In fact, the city government was supposed to rent the building at P500,000 per month starting last year but Labella ordered a review of the lease contract following criticisms. Labella agreed that the amount was exorbitant for a rent.
Following the controversy, the owner of the building agreed to allow the city government to use the facility for free until December last year. But the city continued to occupy the building until now prompting the majority of the councilors to agree to pay the rental from July to October arguing that the city government has already saved at least P700,000 in rentals.
Councilor Yayoy Alcoseba lamented the city government’s practice of implementing a project before seeking the council’s approval. — FPL (FREEMAN)