Rama seeks joint venture with private developers

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama wants to go on a joint venture with any private land developers for the several unattended Cebu Hall-owned properties located in strategic places in the city.

The mayor is looking at the development of these unused lots primarily for families who have no homes.

Rama has directed his secretary, Belinda Navasquez, to schedule a meeting with the Division for the Welfare of Urban Poor (DWUP) and the urban poor consultants so they can discuss his plan.

It was reported that the City Government has close to 1,000 vacant lots spread in different barangays, but many of these are not livable mainly because of the absence of electrical and water connections.

Some of these lots, however, have been occupied by informal settlers for several years.

The Commission on Audit (COA) recently asked Cebu City officials to refrain from buying more lots for housing programs because the City has several parcels of lands that are not being used for its purpose.

The City bought several parcels of lands during the administration of then mayor Alvin Garcia, among them the vast of lands in barangay Guba which was later found to be within the watershed.

DWUP officials admitted that there are hundreds of homeless urban poor families applying as beneficiaries of the City’s urban poor projects, but the City could not give them any space unless the idle properties are developed. — (FREEMAN)