Only suggestions, no compromise: Gwen: No deal yet with DILG on 93-1

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia stressed that there is no compromise agreement with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in the resolution of the 93-1 issue.

Lawyer Angel Ojastro, who represented DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo in closed-door meeting with Garcia last week, was reportedly proposing a compromise amount for settlers of 93-1 with unpaid obligations to Cebu province.

“There is no compromise, because compromise entails giving up of certain things in order to get something else. It’s like a done deal, it is not,” Garcia told reporters yesterday.

In a letter signed by Robredo, which was delivered by Ojastro, a comparative value was indicated that could be considered coming up with a compromise price.

For example, one area covered by 93-1 for instance has a Php8,000 per square meter zonal value set by the Bureau of Internal Revenue; P2,500 per square meter on the assessed value of the Provincial Assessor and P300 per square meter set under Provincial Ordinance 93-1 for the informal settlers to pay.

Garcia said that these are the suggestions of the DILG that they are now reading and evaluating.

“In so far as any possible counter-proposals are concerned, there still a long way to go,” Garcia said.

Garcia earlier said that she will settle the 93-1 issue before she steps down as governor of the Province of Cebu in 2013.

There is now ongoing talk between the Province and the City of Cebu through their respective representatives.

Garcia said the DILG has made good in its promise to come up with good suggestions on how they may move forward on 93-1 issue.

“These are suggestions nga mahimo natong take off point. We can start from there. It’s a possible standard,” she said. 

Garcia expects another meeting with Robredo himself after the proposal has already been delivered to her by his assistant last week.

Garcia also said that 93-1 beneficiaries need no spokesperson in dealing this matter because they are directly dealing with the provincial government.

“There’s no need for them to have spokesperson especially when possible political posturing will just come into play,” she said.

The issue now involves the lives of over 4,000 affected families who have not paid while others have only partially paid their lots covered by 93-1.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Board has authorized Governor Garcia to determine the courses of action Capitol should take in connection with Provincial Ordinance 93-1.

During its first regular session for this year yesterday, the board unanimously approved the resolution sponsored by PB Member Alex Binghay who chairs the committee on municipal and provincial properties.

Binghay, in introducing the resolution, said that the provincial governor as well as the Board desire that the issue be settled with the appropriate parties.

“The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of the Province of Cebu is of the firm belief that these issues can be settled expeditiously of the Province of Cebu will speak with one voice,” the resolution reads.—/NLQ   (FREEMAN NEWS)