Petition vs. Ciudad circulated

CEBU, Philippines - Some residents of Barangay Banilad are now circulating petition letters for the signatures of those who are against the construction of the P1.2-billion Ciudad Project in Barangay Apas as they believe it will cause more traffic congestion in their barangay.

Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young said some residents of barangay Banilad went to his office a few days ago asking him to sign the petition letter.

“Mipirma ko,” said Young who also claimed that there were some city councilors who signed the petition, although he failed to identify them.

The petition letter came after it was reported that the City Planning and Development Office already issued a locational clearance to the Fifth Avenue Development Corp., the developer of the Ciudad Project.

“The petitioners wants that before the construction of the Ciudad Project will be approved the Banilad-Talamban road should be widened first,” the vice mayor said. The public engineers said the government needs billions of pesos for the road-right-of-way to widen Gov. Mariano Cuenco Ave.

Cebu City South District Rep. Tomas Osmeña earlier threatened to file criminal charges against Planning and Development Officer Alipio Bacalso and the city lawyers who gave a legal opinion that the Ciudad Project can be built at the province-owned lot.

Osmeña said it is very clear in the amended zoning ordinance of Cebu City that the province-owned lots that were acquired through the Friar Lands Act cannot be used for commercial purposes.

When reporters asked Young if the City Council will initiate the legal move against Bacalso and the city lawyers, the vice mayor just smiled.

Councilor Sisinio Andales said they will discuss the issue about the locational clearance during their regular session on Wednesday.

Bacalso had said that his office issued the locational clearance to the Fifth Avenue Development Corp. because they have complied with all the requirements.

The locational clearance is one of the requirements in the application of a building permit, but Office of the Building Officials head Josefa Ylanan said her office still did not receive a building permit application for the Ciudad Project.

The City Council made some amendment to the Cebu City zoning ordinance in 2008 so that the province-owned lots within the city can be used only for public purpose as provided for under Act 1120 or the Friar Lands Act.

The planned Ciudad Project was stopped during the term of Osmeña as mayor for the reason that it will worsen traffic. (FREEMAN)