Carlo questions insistence of Jonas to use Paknaan lot

CEBU, Philippines - Mandaue City Vice Mayor Carlo Pontico Fortuna is questioning the move of Mayor Jonas Cortes, who insists to use the 6.5-hectare property in barangay Paknaan as a relocation site despite questions raised about the lot title.

Fortuna said that the mayor should not forget that there is a relocation site in barangay Canduman.

“That’s a multi-million dollar question. Ngano man gyud adto na i-relocate ang mga families living in danger zones sa dagat nga mas peligro pa hinuon. If they are really sincere in helping the poor families, adto diay nila papuy-on sa dagat,” Fortuna asked.

Mandaue City Councilor Editha Cabahug, who is the committee chairman on housing of the City Council, conducted a third ocular inspection of the site with some urban poor groups and noted that the area is submerged in seawater.

“Daghan og mga mangroves ug agukoy ang area,” said Cabahug in a press conference yesterday.

But lawyer Francisco Amit, chief of the city’s housing and urban development, said that the area has other fruit bearing trees such as coconuts.

Amit also clarified that the selling price of the 6.5-hectare lot is only P131,640,000 at 2,000 per square meter and not P195 million as Fortuna claimed.

Amit said that the vice mayor is issuing misleading statements.

Amit said that out of the P131,640,000, the city government will only pay P13,164,000 as financial assistance to the expected 1,200 beneficiaries which will be used as equity or down payment in the acquisition of the property which is to be paid directly to lot owner, Dennis Lua.

Amit said the remaining amount, which is around P118 million will be made paid by the beneficiaries in three years.

Fortuna, however, insisted that the lot title is questionable.

“Ang mga beneficiaries lagi ang mubayad sa remaining amount but in the event dili ni sila makabayad, the city will be the one to pay kay mao man ang ni-guarantee,” Fortuna said.

In May 11, the city government represented by Cortes and Lua entered into a memorandum of agreement wherein the 65,820-square meter land identified as Lot No. 2 in barangay Paknaan covered under Transfer Certificate of Title No. 19770 is identified as the permanent relocation site of the homeless and underprivileged city residents especially those who are facing eviction and those living in danger zones.

Fortuna said that there is an adverse claim on the said property and it cannot be titled as it forms part of the public domain, hence it belongs to the government.

Amit however countered that the adverse claim was already lifted last February 10 and the certificate of finality of the lifting of such claimed was issued last February 12 by Branch 55 Presiding Judge Ulric Cañete.

The adverse claim on such property was filed in 2006 by the city government itself during the time of former Mayor Thadeo Ouano.

“Yes, the adverse claim was lifted because Mayor Jonas Cortes, who is supposed to protect the said property did not contest the decision of the court and knowingly entered into a MOA with Lua even if there is an adverse claim by the city government. He is supposed to protect the property of the city, but he did not even lift a finger,” the vice mayor said.

Fortuna said that the City Council, which he presides decided to cancel the authority given to the mayor to enter into such MOA two months ago. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)