CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council has no qualms about the meeting of Mayor Michael Rama and Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia last December 31 even if this was done without their authority.
The mayor and governor discussed the problem of urban poor families that are occupying province-owned lots located in the city that are covered by Provincial Ordinance 93-1.
Rama has strongly denied speculations that the governor had agreed to negotiate with the city about the 93-1 issue on condition that the construction of the Ciudad project of the provincial government be allowed.
The Ciudad project is located in barangay Apas, but is along the Banilad-Talamban corridor where developments have been stopped due to issues about traffic congestion.
“Walay labut na. Pero amo na nga tan-awon apan dili kana kondisyon sa pagpadayon sa negosasyon kabahin sa 93-1,” Rama said.
Former mayor and now Cebu City South District Rep. Tomas R. Osmeña, in a separate interview, is not in favor to allow the Ciudad as condition for the negotiation.
Rama gathered all the city councilors, except Councilors Richard Osmeña and Rodrigo Abellanosa, at the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel yesterday morning where he briefed them about his meeting with the governor.
Osmeña and some of the city councilors earlier said Rama should first ask the authority of the City Council if he wants to talk with the governor to discuss the issue of the urban poor families, but Rama did not listen to the advice.
Councilor Edgardo Labella said “All of us are for the happy resolution of the problem. It’s a positive development. After all the mayor has to discuss this with the City Council who will give him the authority to negotiate and eventually enter the agreement.”
Rama formally appointed Labella to be part of the team of the city that will handle the negotiation together with the representatives of the governor.
Aside from Labella, the other members of the city negotiating team are Councilors Sisinio Andales, Alvin Dizon, Nida Cabrera, Francisco “Bimbo” Fernandez and city administrator Jose Mari Poblete.
Dizon and Cabrera went to Osmeña’s residence yesterday afternoon to listen to some suggestions from the former mayor.
Osmeña explained that he has no personal disagreements with Rama, but he can’t help but criticize the mayor if Rama does not follow the policies of the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan on letting the people understand the issue.
It was Osmeña who proposed the land swap deal between the Capitol and City Hall a few years ago to save the more than 2,000 urban poor families from possible eviction.
Rama said after his election as mayor it is his priority to negotiate with the governor to settle the problem of the urban poor families.
The proposed land swap deal was suspended after Garcia got mad because of Rama’s earlier statement that if the deal would push through, the city will face problems in the collection of payments for the lots from the urban poor families.
After Garcia suspended the land swap deal, the city also suspended the construction of commercial buildings by the province in Apas.
Osmeña yesterday said if the city will allow the construction of the Ciudad project it will cause heavy traffic congestion on Mariano Cuenco Avenue that will affect the residents of Talamban and neighboring barangays.
Osmeña explained that once the traffic situation on the Banilad-Talamban corridor will worsen, it will discourage the investors to pour in their investment in that particular area.
“Luoy kaayo ang mga tawo lahus na ngadto sa barangay Lusaran.”
Osmeña admitted that widening the Banilad-Talamban road is one of the solutions to the traffic congestion problem in that area, but he explained that it could not be done right away because it needs billions of pesos to make it happen.
But Rama said the discussion of the Capitol’s Ciudad project will be done separately together with Cebu City North District Rep. Rachel “Cutie” del Mar, officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and some city officials. –/NLQ (FREEMAN)