City to pay P12M for Palicte lot

CEBU, Philippines - Mayor Tomas R. Osmeña has accepted the offer of the heirs of the late Matilde Palicte to just pay them P12 million instead of P14.6 million as final payment of the 5,285-square meter lots that was expropriated by the city for its urban poor project.

City administrator Francisco “Bimbo” Fernandez, who was granted by the mayor a full authority to decide over urban poor-related matters, said the Cebu City government will already pay the heirs of Palicte so that the city will no longer pay interest of the balance amount.

Court sheriff Antonio Bellones said the city’s balance to the Palictes is P14,605,061 if it will pay not later than November 29, 2009.

Bellones told Councilor Jose Daluz III, chairman of the committee on budget and finance of the Cebu City Council, that the heirs of Palicte will just accept P12 million as their final settlement of the unpaid balance, but the amount shall be paid on or before December 15.

The mayor said he will abide with whatever decision Fernandez will make on urban poor-related matters and he does not mind to be the latter’s rubber stamp.

Fernandez said there is an ongoing negotiation on the issue, but he assured that the city will pay the heirs of Palicte, although he did not say when.

Bellones said if the city will pay the P12 million before December 15, the city could save a total amount of P3,043,313 because it will no longer be required to pay the P438,251 government commission.

According to Bellones, if the city refuses to accept the offer, the heirs of Palicte told him that they will insist on being paid the total amount due them.– Rene U. Borromeo/WAB   (FREEMAN NEWS)