93-1 residents hopeful to have lot concerns finally resolved by Garcias

CEBU, Philippines — Residents in properties under Provincial Ordinance 93-1 have their fingers crossed as they hope that their long-time plight over the security of their homes will finally be resolved with the Cebu City and Provincial governments working closely on it.

In an interview over the City’s Sugboanon channel, Eulane Quiros, who serves as secretary to the 93-1 Movement, expressed their hopefulness that their decades worth of concerns will finally be put to an end.

Quiros also thanked acting Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia for working together with his aunt, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia in helping them for their security of land tenure.

“Labi na karun nga ang atong current (acting) mayor, siya pay chairman sa local housing committee and lot acquisition (committees), dako mig paglaum nga dako siyag matabang sa kasolbaran ani,” said Quiros.

“Hinaot unta nga magpadayon ta unya naa na tay kasolbaran kay moabot napud tag 50 ka tuig,” Quiros added, as those living in 93-1 properties had been in limbo for decades.

Last August 8, 2024, acting mayor Garcia and Gov. Garcia met with over 5,800 occupants of 93-1 lots to finalize the deadline to submit their loan applications to the Home Development Mutual Fund or Pag-IBIG.

During that meeting, Gov. Garcia urged Pag-IBIG to create special guidelines exclusive to 93-1 lot occupants.

Gov. Garcia made this request after homeowners of the Old Railway Residents Association (Oprra) in Barangay Kalunasan complained that Pag-IBIG will not release the funding for their loan applications until individual lot titles are transferred to the beneficiaries.

Gov. Garcia lamented that Capitol-owned lots cannot be transferred directly to the beneficiaries without receiving the funding allotment as this is against the law.

Quiros admitted that Pag-IBIG’s requirements for the housing loan is one hurdle that she and her fellow homeowners need to address.

Catherine Elpa, 93-1 Movement treasurer, for her part, said some of their members who have been living in the disputed properties for more than five decades are cooperative of the initiative of the City and Province to legitimize their land tenure.

“Ang among pag-ampo gyud sa 93-1 nga mahuman na gyud ni kay sa dugay na panahon. Maayo unta nga matuman na gyud among pangandoy,” Elpa said.

Lawyer Ronald Anthony “Butch” Librando, DWUP executive director, assured Quiros and other 93-1 lot occupants that the City is doing its best to address the problem.

On Feb. 8, 1993, the Cebu Provincial Board enacted Ordinance 93-1, which allowed Cebu City residents occupying Province-owned lots to own the properties after paying the full amortization within two years, but things got complicated as the years went by. — /ATO (FREEMAN)