Sans council approval Rama meets Garcia to discuss 93-1 lots

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama have finally met to discuss the possible solution to the long standing problem of the city residents facing eviction from the province-owned lots covered by the 93-1 ordinance.

The meeting of the two local chief executives transpired in the evening of December 31 after Garcia arrived from her vacation in Hongkong. The governor confirmed meeting with Rama and discussed the 93-1 issue extensively.

“He made good. We were able to talk about the 93-1 issue before the stroke of midnight ending the 2010,” Garcia said.

Garcia did not give specifics of what transpired during the meeting but hinted that the shelved development of their Ciudad project in Barangay Banilad because of the development ban that the city government has imposed may also be resolved.

According to Garcia, Rama “recognizes the fact that the 93-1 issue is tied-up with other issues and he specifically agreed that the Ciudad issue is inextricably linked to the 93-1.”

“We have the dawning of a new age in so far as Cebu City is concerned,” Garcia added.

The meeting, however, offended Cebu City Councilor Alvin Dizon, member of the city’s 93-1 negotiating team.

Dizon said Rama’s decision to meet and discuss with Garcia the fate of the members of 43 homeowners associations occupying 93-1 lots in 13 barangays in the city did not have the authority of the council.

Rama did not also make a prior consultation with the members of the council and the negotiating team.

But Garcia found it ironic because Rama’s predecessor, now Cebu City South District Rep. Tomas Osmeña, did not consult the members of the City Council when he first dealt with the Provincial Board and offered a land swapping deal.

“As it is now, it does seem quite amusing for a member of the council to remind the mayor to consult him first when the previous occupant never did consult the council,” Garcia said.

Garcia believes that the mayor is the best person that can move forward and extend a hand to the Capitol in order to start a possible resolution of the 93-1 issue.

Garcia stressed that when an agreement is made there would be a technical working group and the members of the City Council will not be kept in the dark.

Garcia promised to resolve the 93-1 issue before her term ends in 2013.

She added that no need to meet Rama again saying that the line of communication is already open between them. Garcia appreciated Rama’s reaching out to the province.

At least 4,000 families occupying the 93-1 lots in Barangays Apas, Luz, Busay, Mabolo, Lorega, Camputhaw, Lahug, Capitol Site, and Kalunasan are facing possible eviction because of their failure to settle their obligation to the provincial government.

Records kept by the 93-1 Movement show an unpaid balance of P321,576,400.

The figure represents amounts owed by those who have made only partial payments and those who have not paid at all.

The occupants were given three grace periods to settle their accounts as approved during the term of then Gov. Vicente de la Serna.

It was dela Serna who approved Resolution no. 239-93, popularly known as provincial ordinance 93-1.

With the occupants’ failure to settle their accounts on time, the provincial government extended the deadline from January 1994 to 1999. This was later extended to 2004.

After 2004, majority of the occupants appealed for another extension to Garcia but the Governor turned them down. Garcia instead hinted to recover the properties. — (FREEMAN)