PB asks city to defer enforcing demolition

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Board yesterday passed a resolution requesting the City of Cebu to defer from acting on the issue surrounding W. Geonzon Street at the IT Park in Barangay Apas.

The resolution sponsored by PB Member Grecilda Sanchez was in response to the pronouncement of Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama that he intends to demolish the perimeter wall of W. Geonzon Street by force.

“There is already a near peaceful resolution initiated by the Cebu Province together with the commitment of Filinvest and CPVDC to mutually beneficial solution in all issues as well as taking into consideration the concerns of the Cebu City government,” Sanchez told The FREEMAN.

Sanchez said the Province of Cebu believes that demolition of the perimeter wall on W. Geonzon Street by force would be gravely inimical to the interest of the Province in its project with Filinvest Land Inc., Cebu Property Ventures and Development Corporation and ultimately, to the interest of the Cebuanos, including the thousands of workers, employees and businessmen who invested at the I.T. Park.

“The demolition of the perimeter wall on W. Geonzon Street by force would further derail the ongoing discussions of the Province with CPVDC, and…with Filinvest,” she said.

In 2012, the Province of Cebu entered into a build-operate-transfer (BOT) agreement with FLI to develop its 12,290-square-meter property beside the Cebu I.T. Park.

FLI bid to invest P1.76 billion for the construction of a BPO complex in the Capitol property.

Section 2.06(iii) of the BTO agreement states that the Province undertake to give FLI access and passage through W. Geonzon Street.

Sanchez, however, said the undertaking was not in consonance with the terms of reference that applied to all bidders for the project.

She said the Committee on Provincial Properties is currently reviewing with FLI the terms of the BTO agreement.

Last August 20, the Cebu City Council passed and approved a resolution declaring W. Geonzon Street located at the perimeter of Cebu I.T. Park and bounded by a wall a “public road.”

The Cebu I.T. Park is owned by CPVDC, of which the province is a shareholder.

Sanchez said the province has been and is still in discussion with CPVDC to address its concern with FLI regarding the perimeter wall on W. Geonzon Street.

Governor Hilario Davide III, on the other hand, said he also wants that the matter be resolved as soon as possible.

The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) earlier affirmed the right of CPVDC over W. Geonzon Street.

FLI earlier sought help from the provincial government and the city government after CPVDC allegedly refused to grant access to W. Geonzon Street, which caused delay in the implementation of FLI’s project with the province. (FREEMAN)