Capitol, city start "talks" on 93-1

CEBU, Philippines – Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama have already started talking about the possible renegotiation on the 93-1 issue.

Capitol spokesman Rory Jon Sepulveda told reporters that the two local executives had an informal discussion on the matter over the telephone, which he hopes could be the start of the formal negotiation.

During the conversation, Rama allegedly assured the governor that the city will seriously look into it and refer it to the city legal office for further study.

In previous interview, Garcia said that the provincial government has confidence on the new leadership at the Cebu City government under Rama.

The governor admitted that there is a need to discuss further the issues involving the 4,000 families who are covered by the Provincial Ordinance 93-1.

According to Garcia, the Capitol and City Hall should discuss what to do on residents who have partially paid and those who have not paid at all.

With Rama at the city's helm, Garcia said both local government units can now decide on their own.

"We would be willing to listen to the side of the City of Cebu," Garcia stressed, adding the issue on 93-1 is not as simple as what former mayor Tomas Osmeña made it appear to be.

Rama is happy that Garcia is open to renegotiations on the land swapping deal, but he said he will first have to consult the city attorney on the matter.

Osmeña has offered a land-swap deal with the provincial officials so the urban poor families who are occupying the province owned lots will no longer be evicted from their locations.

Provincial government officials were initially okay with the deal but a conflict rose when Rama, when he was still vice mayor, said in a privilege speech at the City Council that the Capitol officials are "dawat limpyo" as they meant to pass the problem of collecting the remaining installment payments from the urban poor families to the city.

The deal was shelved after a "word war" erupted between Garcia and Osmeña that resulted in hostility between the city and the province. (THE FREEMAN)