Rama dares Capitol to give up properties

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has challenged Governor Hilario Davide III to turn over to the city government all province-owned properties  within the city to avoid “tenurial problem.”

“I am challenging the provincial government now.  There are so many properties owned by province within the city (93-1). We don’t intend to sell them, but rather  to help the occupants, our constituents,” Rama said.

Rama said if the ownership of the contested lots in Barangay Apas had been transferred years ago to the city government, incidents like the current demolition in Sitio San Miguel in the same barangay might not have happened.

At least 157 families occupying lots 942 and 947 are affected of the said demolition which started Mar. 4.  MTCC Branch 6 Judge Pamela Baring issued the writ of demolition on Jan. 23, 2014 against the  occupants of the two lots.

Rama said he doesn’t want such incident be emulated for the rest of the 93-1 properties or those parcels of land owned by the provincial government within  Cebu City.

“[The] 93-1 [issue] should not be reaching to this point. Let’s bring improvement like re-blocking so that fire incidents will be reduced, improve drainage, rather than sending people to state of anxiety, sleepless night and suffering because of ejectment, issue on ownership and bringing occupants so much in an unnecessary situation,” Rama ranted.

“The 93-1, I am looking at it as another problem. This is the problem, our people don’t have a property that they can call their own,” he added.

Rama recalled that he already set a meeting with Davide to discuss about the 93-1 issue, although he said the latter was still unavailable.

He said if these properties were given under the city’s ownership, they will give free patent title to the qualified occupants.

Recently, at least 60 socialized homeowners of barangay Tinago and Duljo Fatima received free patents from the city government.

The issuance of land titles is in accordance with the Republic Act 10023 or the act authorizing the issuance of free patents to the residential lands, more known as the Free Patent Act, that was enacted after then president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo  signed it last Mar. 9, 2010.

After 20 years, negotiation between the Capitol and occupants of province-owned lots in Cebu City covered under Provincial Ordinance 93-1 was back on the negotiating table September last year.

Provincial Board Member Grecilda Sanchez, who heads the Provincial Board (PB) committee  on provincial and municipal properties, met with leaders and representatives of different homeowners associations who were 93-1 beneficiaries.

Earlier, Davide vowed to finally resolve the long-standing problem with 93-1, which started in 1993 during the term of governor Vicente dela Serna.

The meeting was deemed a start of a series of talks designed to find mutually beneficial solution to the problem.

“Gikalipay nako kay murag humok-humok  na ba, di na ingon ato pareha sa una. (The meeting gladdened me because unlike before, it appears there is a softening of stances),” Sanchez told reporters back in September.

Her proposals then included the establishment of high-rise socialized housing in prime locations where market value of lots is too high for residents to afford.

 â€œWe have ideas to address the issue nga di ma-deprive ang probinsiya. (that would not put the Province at a disadvantage),” she said.

The opportunity to comply with the terms and conditions set by Ordinance 93-1 ended in 2003, with occupants failing to fulfill their obligations despite the 10-year period.

When she assumed office in 2004, then governor and now Third District Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia tried to enter into another scheme of resolving the issue through a land swap deal with the Cebu City Government.

The agreement was nearing completion when it fell through after then Vice Mayor Michael Rama delivered a privilege speech before the City Council saying it was unfair to City Hall.

In Garcia’s last term, Vice President Jejomar Binay promised to provide technical and financial assistance for occupants to acquire the lots they are occupying.

At least 19 homeowners associations from different Cebu City barangays have signed an agreement for the sale of a lot with a total area of 155,979.41 square meters.

They agreed for Pag-ibig Fund to help the beneficiaries pay so the Capitol would no longer be the one collecting from the residents.

Last August 22, Binay wrote Davide a letter stating he would help “to enable the actual occupants to purchase the said lots.”

Binay urged Davide to “study and consider the request of homeowners association for an adjustment of the high price of the land under their expired memorandum of agreement with the province.”

The vice president also requested Davide to “subsequently endorse the matter to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.” — (FREEMAN)