Gwen vows to settle 93-1 controversy before her term ends

CEBU, Philippines – Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia yesterday gave the assurance that the 93-1 controversy will be settled before she steps down from Capitol in 2013.

Garcia gave the commitment following South District Rep. Tomas Osmeña's skepticism whether or not Secretary Jesse Robredo's intervention would address the land dispute between the provincial government and the beneficiaries of the Ordinance 93-1.

The Governor said she will see to it that the controversy will be settled in a "just, fair and unskeptical" manner.

"Well, he is entitled to his own skepticism but I think the question here is what would be good for everybody concerned, and I will commend Sec. Robredo for leading the way by making the effort to look for a solution to this," Garcia said.

The Governor said there are 244 remaining deeds of sale that will be distributed next week and not more 4,000 beneficiaries as alleged by Osmeña.

She explained that from 4,364 total beneficiaries only 1,445 have fully paid, 1,188 partially paid while 1,731 have not paid a single centavo to the province.

Garcia said that the province have so far distributed 1,201 deed of absolute sale.

"I told you this because I would like to debunk often repeated statement of Congressman Tomas that his heart bleeds for more than four thousand families that the governor wishes to evict from the provincial property," she told reporters pointing out that the Congressman got wrong information.

In spite her assurance to resolve the issue before her term ends, Garcia was firmed in her previous pronouncement that there will be no more extension of the deadline for payment.

She said that the province has been very kind to the beneficiaries by extending the period of payment twice already. The last extension granted by the province ended in 2003 yet.

"I no longer extend it to be fair with those who really paid. I am obligated to defend the interest of the province and look for fairness and justice to all concerned," she said. (FREEMAN)