Garcia denies using 93-1 lots for political leverage

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia has belied accusations from former mayor Tomas Osmeña that he is using the 93-1 land issue as a leverage to advance his political agenda.

During a press conference last week, Osmeña and Councilor Nestor Archival Sr. criticized a memorandum issued by Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia giving ultimatum to the residents of the 93-1 lots to get a housing loan from Pag-IBIG.

Osmeña alleged that the ultimatum was a "bluff" intended to benefit Mayor Garcia, who is a nephew of the governor, politically. He also pointed to the non-implementation of the land swap agreement and urged the affected residents to take legal action against the Cebu City Government for its supposed inaction.

In response, Mayor Garcia addressed the issue in a press conference on Monday, recalling that the land swap agreement was signed in 2016 when he was a councilor. He noted that the City Council had given then-mayor Osmeña the authority to finalize the deal but claimed that no action was taken.

"He was mayor for three years, and he did not implement it. Three years is a long time. And I, as mayor for nine months, am the one to implement it, right?" said Mayor Garcia.

"He had the opportunity at that time when Governor (Hilario) Davide (III) was in office. Why did they not implement it? They had three years to do so," he added.

The mayor further lamented that despite the signing of the agreement, "nothing has happened."

The land swap deal, signed in December 2018 by then-mayor Osmeña and then-governor, now Vice Governor, Davide, covered 32 hectares of province-owned lots under Ordinance 93-1. The agreement included parcels of land in Barangays Kamputhaw, Capitol Site, Kalunasan, Busay, Luz, Lahug, Mabolo, Apas, Lorega-San Miguel, Kasambagan, and Tejero. Other properties included in the deal were a 1.5-hectare lot in the Department of Agriculture compound along M. Velez Street, a 2,358-square-meter lot on Gorordo Avenue in Barangay Lahug, and a 577-square-meter lot on Don Gil Garcia Street in Barangay Capitol Site.

“Mao nay giingon, together nothing happened,” Mayor Garcia said.

“So what happened before? Why was it not implemented in the past?” he questioned.

Mayor Garcia assured the public that his administration remains committed to assisting the 93-1 residents. He highlighted his tenure as Vice Mayor, during which he chaired the Committee on Housing and "insisted" on aiding the affected families.

He also noted that he had personally facilitated their applications for a housing loan through Pag-IBIG.

“One year ago pa ko nag sige og meeting ani nila to resolve their issues. Dili lang kay karon panahon sa election, panahon sa kampanya nga nigawas ko ug niingon nga nitabang ko nila. No, one year ago pa,” Mayor Garcia said.

The mayor vehemently denied leveraging the issue for political gain, stressing that the ultimatum had already been lifted last Friday.

“I don’t think it’s an accurate statement,” he said in response to Osmeña’s claims.

The Freeman reported on March 15, 2023 , that the Cebu Provincial Board had revoked the Memorandum of Agreement and the subsequent deeds of donation between the Cebu Provincial Government and the Cebu City Government concerning the 93-1 lots. The resolution, authored by PB Member John Ismael Borgonia, cited defective lot donations and failed negotiations between the two local government units as reasons for the revocation.

The revocation of the land swap agreement happened during the administration of then-mayor Michael Rama. — (FREEMAN)