Council starts move to amend zoning law

The Cebu City Council finally started yesterday its move to amend the city’s 11-year-old zoning ordinance to declare as socialized housing sites several parcels of land situated in 11 barangays of the city that are owned by the provincial government.

The parcels of lot that were recommended to be declared as socialized housing sites are those under the Provincial Ordinance 93-1. These lots are now occupied by urban poor families.

At least four councilors - Gerardo Carillo, Hilario Davide III, Richard Osmeña and Augustus Pe Jr. - have sponsored a proposal that would amend the zoning ordinance, which is seen to ignite more heated arguments between the city and the Capitol.

The affected properties – which are now occupied by thousands of urban poor families in the city - are located in barangays Apas, Tejero, Mabolo, Lorega, Lahug, Kalunasan, Camputhaw, Barangay Luz, Capitol Site, Kasambagan and Busay.

If Mayor Tomas Osmeña succeeds in amending the City Ordinance 1656, the province’s lot properties could no longer be used for commercial purposes.

Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia is reportedly planning to commercially develop some of the provincial lots in the city, a move that Osmeña strongly objected.

Carillo said once the lots are rezoned into socialized housing sites, the province could no longer sell its land properties to other parties except to their current occupants, and could not use them other than for socialized housing projects.

It was Osmeña who pushed for the rezoning of the properties to prevent the Capitol from evicting the occupants from its lots.

Capitol consultant Rory Jon Sepulveda said they would strongly object to the city’s move during a public hearing, which is a requirement before an amendment could be implemented.

Apas barangay captain Clemente Rosales said the poor families in the barangay welcomed the move of the City Council, hoping that it will prosper.

Republic Act 7279 provides that government properties occupied by socialized housing beneficiaries in a locality are prioritized to be declared as socialized housing zones. — Rene U. Borromeo/LPM