Gwen: Land swap deal never “killed”

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia yesterday clarified that the provincial government never closed its doors on the deal with the city government to swap the province-owned lots with the city’s 3.6 hectares of prime lot at the North Reclamation Area.

“I never said that my doors are closed on lot swap negotiation for as long it is value-for-value basis,” Garcia told reporters during a press conference.

The governor was commenting on the reports that the lot swap with the city government was going to be revived after.  City and Capitol officials met Wednesday during the public hearing at the City Hall and discussed the proposed amendment of the 1996 City Zoning Ordinance which aims at introducing socialized housing zone as a new land classification.

Cebu Provincial Board member Juan Bolo and Capitol consultant on information and revenue generation Rory Jon Sepulveda attended the meeting.  Sepulveda was quoted as opposing to the revision of the ordinance since it was disadvantageous to the province-owned lots.

He cited Republic Act 7279 or “An Act To Provide For A Comprehensive And Continuing Urban Development And Housing Program” which provide the guidelines for the creation of socialized housing sites.

Garcia recalled that Provincial Board agreed to have a lot swap with the city government of its more than 60 parcels of province-owned land in 11 Cebu City barangays covered by 93-1 Ordinance.

But Vice Mayor Michael Rama later objected to the proposal in a worded privilege speech.

The governor said that the provincial board was even taken by surprise because earlier the mayor had already talked with the city officials.

Upon learning that the city officials were indecisive to come with definite decision, Garcia withdrew the deal.

This resulted to misunderstanding between the two officials. These lots are said to be part of the 210 parcels of lands that the Capitol had donated to Cebu City in 1964, but were taken back by the province under then governor Rene Espina.

But since the lots were already occupied by informal settlers, the Cebu Provincial Board, during the term of former governor Vicente dela Serna, passed Ordinance No. 93-1 allowing the occupants to purchase the lots through installment basis for five years. The installment basis was then extended for 10 years.

Majority of them failed to completely pay their obligations.

Capitol claims it owns 53 hectares of lands in Cebu City, but Osmeña argued that some of these properties are no longer owned by the province because the occupants have already paid the full amount of the lots.

After Rama raised his objection, and his “insulting statement,” Garcia said the provincial board passed a resolution scraping the lot swap deal.

“Even before, I already stated my position because the provincial board had passed a resolution urging me to drop the deal. After that, the city mayor had said that he will take charge of the deal,” she said.

Due to indefinite decision of the city officials, he said that the provincial government announced to continue lot swap but on a value-for-value arrangement

After they appraised the property up for swap, the said governor it reached to about P5 billion.  She said Osmena even sent his representative to her office to convince her to revive the lot swap.

Garcia reiterated that what she and the mayor were fighting for is for the good of the Cebuanos.

“We are elected chief executives and we are bound for duty to protect the interest of our respective constituents.”   — Gerome M. Dalipe/BRP