Officials, faculty, students reiterate support to Ouano

The administration of the Mandaue City College, the school's faculty, the almost 800 students and their parents reiterated their unwavering support to the decision of Mayor Thadeo Ouano to put up a building for the college near the Mandaue City Comprehensive High School.

School president Paulus Cañete, in his letter to Ouano, said MCC is but an excellent recognition of the need to educate the young, which is vital for the progress of a city.

To date, Cañete said, their students attend classes in various city-owned buildings scattered all over the city and this situation is not conducive for learning.

"This is the reason why all of us were overwhelmed with joy when informed that your honor has taken steps in repossessing a piece of idle city property for the purpose of constructing the MCC building thereon," Cañete said.

Ouano told The Freeman that Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla, Jr. has already expressed his willingness to donate P10 million for the construction of the building.

Ouano said aside from Revilla, Presidential chief of staff Michael Defensor has also expressed willingness to donate.

The MCC support for the Ouano administration came after Norkis Trading Company Inc. sued the city government and Ouano himself for the alleged illegal takeover of the city-owned property, which was then used by the company as its display center.

Norkis has filed a P3.6 million damage suit against the city government and Ouano in his private capacity.

The filing of this complaint stemmed after the city government repossessed on November 29, 2006, the 17,432 square-meter lot leased by Norkis in barangay Looc, this city.

The parcel subject of the MOA is a foreshore land that was leased by the National Government to Atty. Norberto Quisumbing, Jr., the chairman of Norkis in 1966.

In the early 1970's, Norkis reclaimed the land and since that time, it has continued to possess and use the lot covered by a lease contract with the national government.

Subsequently, because of the enactment of the Charter of Mandaue City, Norkis and the city government executed a contract of lease to cover Norkis' possession and use thereof.

Thus in February 1980, both parties, acting through former city mayor Demetrio Cortes, executed a contract of lease over the lot, which provides a term of 25 years effective January 1, 1980 and gave Norkis the right to use the property for the Norkis Sports Center, as the site for the learn-to-ride program and for storage facilities.

In 1993, the city government, through former Mayor Alfredo Ouano, requested Norkis to give up 6,000 square meter portion of the lot to build the Mandaue City Comprehensive National High School.

The repossessed lot is now being eyed by the city government as the future site of the Mandaue City College.