Rama hits dads for opposing lot sale

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has criticized the members of the City Council for blocking his plan to sell two city-owned lots to fund his P6.7 billion budget next year.

Rama feels that the city councilors who are mostly allied with the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan are out to cripple his administration.

The mayor projects P1 billion revenue out of the sales of the 3.3-hectare block 27 lot in the North Reclamation Area and another lot near the Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Barangay Lahug.

But Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young and the majority of the members of the City Council are strongly opposed to the plan.

Young said that the NRA lot can be used in land-swapping with the provincial government to address the urban poor problem in the province-owned lots.

Councilor Margarita “Margot” Osmena, who heads the council’s committee on budget and finance, said they want the city-owned lot near the Waterfront Hotel to be swapped with that of the Gochan lot occupied by the Banawa Elementary School.

“Unsa gud tawon na’ng ilang huna-huna… nganong moinsistir man sila og land swap gusto ba sila nga mag-atubang og kaso kay supakon man g’yud nila ang opinion sa Commission on Audit?” the mayor reacted the City Council’s move opposing his plan to sell the two city-owned lots.

The state auditors earlier said that the planned swapping of properties between the city and the Gochan Family could be disadvantageous to the government.

According to COA, the price of the city-owned property in Lahug is higher compared to that of the Gochan’s in Banawa. Osmeña however said that she was told that the Gochans have offered to pay additional or give up other properties in favor of the city government. – (FREEMAN)