Garcia, Rama to meet Binay on housing project

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama are scheduled to meet with Vice-President Jejomar Binay in Manila next month to discuss the proposed joint housing project of the two local government units for informal settlers.

Garcia said she initially discussed the matter with Binay during the general membership meeting of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce last May 21, 2011 at the Radisson Blu Hotel where the Vice President was guest of honor.

Garcia said the specifications of the housing project, in terms of time frame, monetary consumption, inventories, etc., will be crystallized after their meeting with Binay.

Rama proposed a partnership between the City Government and the Provincial Government in giving relocation sites to the informal settlers around the city. Garcia said the province is more than ready to offer its assistance, she however suggested that an inventory should be conducted to determine the exact number of informal settlers. Garcia said she is willing to work with Rama in finding solutions to the increasing number of informal settlers in the city, especially in the high risk areas.

 “Ang amo lang, gusto lang mi motabang,” Garcia said.

The proposed partnership was also discussed during the Metro Cebu Development and Coordinating Board (MCDCB) meeting. Garcia said this project demonstrates the logic and the need why the two LGUs need to have a joint effort.

Meanwhile, Rama yesterday explained his position in pushing for the lifting of the four-year moratorium of new developments in the Banilad-Talamban corridors. Rama said there is no more reason for the moratorium because the problem of urban poor families living in province-owned lots has been settled.

According to Rama, Garcia already announced that no families occupying the 93-1 lots will be evicted. Rama considers the issue of “93-1” as settled when Garcia announced that she will no longer evict any of the residents of the province-owned lots in the city. — (FREEMAN)