Chiong laments inaction on offer to buy Balili beach

CEBU, Philippines — Former City of Naga mayor Valdemar Chiong has expressed disappointments over Capitol’s inaction on the city’s offer to buy the controversial Balili property.

Chiong said the City of Naga offered to purchase the property over a year ago but the local government has not received any reply from the Capitol until now.

Two months ago, a resolution was also passed by the City Council expressing the city’s interest to acquire the property.

According to Chiong, if the Capitol will not sell the controversial property, the present administration under Governor Hilario Davide III acknowledged that the purchase was above board.

“Kung di na nila ibaligya, pasabot ana nga maayo diay na nga property ug sakto si Gwen (former governor Gwendolyn Garcia) pagpalit ana or ila lang na gamiton nga isyu against the former governor,” Chiong told the Freeman.

Chiong said when the Capitol purchased the property at P400 per square in 2008, it was very cheap compared to the present value at around P2,000 per square meter.

Chiong questioned why Capitol sold the equally controversial Cebu International Convention Center to Mandaue City government at a very low price when the City of Naga wants to buy the Balili Property the same amount when it was purchased.

During Garcia’s administration the Capitol spent almost P1 billion to construct and develop the CICC but it was only sold at P300 million.

On the other hand, the Capitol spent more than P100 million to buy and develop the Balili property, which Chiong said the same amount the City of Naga is going to pay.

Chiong said the city will take over whatever legal impediments the property has at present and they are going to develop first the titled area.

The Naga City government plans to convert the 24.7-hectare Balili resort into an industrial or economic zone.

Chiong said they need more area to accommodate further development and he found the Balili property to be a good economic zone in the south. Chiong’s daughter, Vanessa Kristine, is now the city mayor. (FREEMAN)