Buildings ruining Fort San Pedro wall

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Government will spend P2 million to establish an easement at the Fort San Pedro.

The Memorandum of Agreement to formalize the purchase of about 114 square meters, covering three parcels of lots adjacent to the fort owned by Amelita Sola is now being reviewed by the council committee on laws and committee on budget and finance.

The city government wants to purchase the lot to establish an easement at the fort so they can remove the structures attached to it.

The structures, they found out, are slowly destroying that portion of the wall, which is in violation of Presidential Decree No. 1505 prohibiting the unauthorized modification, alteration, repair and destruction of original features of all national shrines, monuments, landmarks and other important historic edifices.

The city will be purchasing three parcels of lots – TCT No. 11042 with an area of seven square meters, TCT No. 107-2010003095 with an area of 57 square meters and TCT No. 11043 with an area of 23 square meters.

Once cleared, the fort will have a two-meter easement from commercial and residential buildings. The lots, at present, are occupied by a warehouse, a chapel and two buildings leased to other people.

The owner offered the property at P25,000 per square-meter but the price was reduced after a series of negotiations and verifications with the City Assessor’s Office.

The exact selling price of the property at 114 square meters is P2,039,500.00.

Under the proposed contract, the city government will pay a 50 percent down payment upon the turnover and compliance by the owner of the requirements while the rest will be paid after the payment of the real property taxes by the owner and the transfer of title to the city government.

Once the city government has acquired the property, they will ask the National Historical Institute for the permission to demolish the attached structures.

Since the Fort is a historical landmark, the demolition of the attached structures needs special handling to make sure it will not cause further damage. — (FREEMAN)