Gwen tells City: Stop saying 5,000 families still in 93-1 lots

CEBU, Philippines – Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia yesterday said the city should refrain from saying that there are still 5,000 urban poor families in province-owned lots that are facing eviction owing to the botched land swap deal between City Hall and Capitol.

In several recent interviews on issues relating to the land swap controversy, Mayor Tomas Osmeña has repeatedly said he is only protecting the 5,000 urban poor families on province-owned lots that are facing eviction.

But Garcia said it is not right to keep on saying that there are still 5,000 urban poor families because in October 2008 alone, the province already distributed 83 Deeds of Absolute Sale to those covered by the controversial 93-1 provincial ordinance. A month later, 134 more deeds were released.

“Kahibalo ni sila mo-ihap? They know very well nga dili 5,000. Naa naba mi gipapahawa?” Garcia said.

Presently, there are but 4,358 families covered by the ordinance, as the province only granted ownership of property to 219 families after review.

The lots covered by the 93-1 ordinance are distributed in barangays Apas, Luz, Camputhaw, Capitol Site, Busay, T. Padilla, Kalunasan, Lorega San Miguel, Mabolo, Kasambagan and Tejero. They have a total saleable area of 435, 991 square meters.

When the province created a review committee in 2004, Garcia suspended the eviction of occupants of 93-1 lots to create an “atmosphere of good faith” while the province was negotiating with the affected families.

The committee continues to review the cases of occupants who have yet to fully pay for their lots. Garcia said Capitol aims to arrive at an “equitable humanitarian solution” and “not outright eviction.”

Last November 7, 2008, the province entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with barangays Lahug, Camputhaw, Luz, Capitol Site, Apas, Busay, Mabolo, Kalunasan, Lorega San Miguel, T. Padilla, Tejero and Kasambagan for continued consultations on the cases of those families who have yet to fully pay for the lots they are occupying.   — Garry B. Lao/JMO (THE FREEMAN)