Rama, Davide to meet on 93-1

CEBU, Philippines – Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has invited Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III and other provincial officials to a meeting within the week to discuss the controversial properties under the ordinance 93-1 which the latter has reportedly obliged.

“As much as possible kung kami ra duha magstorya, humana. Nga kinahanglan kung mahimo sa among time opisina niya ug ako, humanon namo. Pagkahuman, adto na sa Sanggunian Panlungsod (City Council) ug Panlalawigan (Provincial Board) aron nga ma-expedited. More talks gud more mistakes. Less talk, less mistakes,” Rama said.

The city government has offered to pay P500 million for the 32-hectare unpaid lots under the ordinance 93-1 of the province which are occupied by city residents. It has also proposed to donate the city-owned lots occupied by the constituents of the province in Consolacion, Talisay City and Mandaue City.

There are 4,364 home lots under the 93-1. Of the total number, only 1,445 have been fully paid; 1,188 have not been fully paid; while 1,731 have not been paid for at all.

The Capitol, however, is hesitant to accept the offer. The provincial government has made a counter offer to include a property at the South Road Properties, beside the SM Seaside, and a lot at the North reclamation Area on top of the P500 million.

It is not also keen to accept the P100 million initial payment from the city. Provincial legal officer Orvi Ortega said that the city government should pay the amount in full.

Capitol’s appraisal committee estimated the value of the unpaid portions of the 93-1 lots totaling 32 hectares to reach over P2 billion based on the current market rate. However, it is asking only P1.8 billion as a “fair and just compensation”.

“We believe that what is fair is P1.8 billion, not only P500 million,” Ortega said.

Rama said the Capitol should not discuss about the valuation of lots, saying that the price of the city-owned socialized housing area in the province that the city will be donating to the province might even be higher.

“Unsay mahitabo? So it will now become peso-for-peso. We don’t want to talk about peso-for- peso. We’re talking about social concern,” he said.

Rama said he wants another meeting with Davide, former Cebu Governor Vicente “Tingting” de la Serna, Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, the city’s Department for the Welfare of the Urban Poor head Collin Rosell, provincial board members and City Council members.

However, Rama said that those who will attend the meeting should listen so that the 22-year old issue will be resolved for the sake of the beneficiaries.

“First and foremost, kinahanglan maminaw ang tanan. Usahay gud maabot ang storya karon naman ang hinungdan. Makalimot man sa sinugdanan. Unya kami ni davide, grabe man kaayo among anchoring sa sinugdanan. Wa man mi mangawa dinhi panahon sa martial law,” he said. — /FPL (FREEMAN)