City, Capitol renegotiating land deal

CEBU, Philippines —  The Province of Cebu has renegotiated the parameters of the land swap agreement it entered into with Cebu City over the controversial 93-1 lots.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia confirmed meeting with representatives from the Cebu City government last October 28 to discuss "some points" in Provincial Ordinance 93-1.

The ordinance covers the land swap agreement that involves 32 hectares of provincial property occupied by 4,000 Cebu City residents.

By virtue of the deal, the province donated 32 hectares to Cebu City in exchange of city-owned lots, including Block 27, Block 27A, Block 27B which span 3.3 hectares; a 13,711-square -meter separate treatment plant; a 2,476-square-meter City Abattoir, 2.5 hectares at the South Road Properties (SRP), and nine hectares at the Pulpogan Property in Consolacion.

While not disclosing details, Garcia said the province and city agreed on some “points” in the Deed of Donation and Acceptance, which was signed in August 2018 during the term of former Cebu City mayor Tomas Osmeña and former governor Hilario Davide III.

"Duna lay mga certain points nga atong gi-clarify… also, on their end, gi-clarify pud (There were certain points that we needed to clarify… they also clarified some points)," Garcia said.

"Let's just say that we agreed. We agreed on those points that needed to be clarified," she added.

The province, she said, is open to renegotiations.

"Certain issues have to be resolved but of course, we are always open to renegotiation," Garcia said.

She said she is looking forward to an agreement that would benefit both local government units.

"What is good about this is the very harmonious relationship between the Province of Cebu and the City of Cebu… so, we can only look forward to a mutually beneficial agreement between the province and the city," Garcia said.

In May this year, shortly after she won back the seat as governor, Garcia said she wanted to form a committee that would review the documents signed by Cebu province and Cebu City for the 93-1 land swap deal.

“I will look into how everything was put into. I believe there’s no problem as this was done in the most orderly and according to procedures,” Garcia said during her unity and solidarity meeting with then mayor-elect Edgardo Labella.

It was in 1993 when the province approved Provincial Ordinance No. 93-1, which provides a scheme for Cebu City residents to pay monthly amortization for them to own the province-owned lots they have been staying at for years.

The 93-1 deal has 5,000 beneficiaries living in Barangays Kamputhaw, Capitol Site, Kalunasan, Busay, Luz, Lahug, Mabolo, Apas, Lorega, San Miguel, Kasambagan, and Tejero in Cebu City.  JMO (FREEMAN)