Barangay in a quandary seeks Soc’s wisdom

CEBU, Philippines -  Barangay San Roque in Talisay City has sought Mayor Socrates Fernandez’s wisdom to solve a problem involving a mall’s intention to cut across a private property to build a drainage system.

The mall has offered an amount but definitely much lower than what the lot owners have in mind.

A certain Valeria Gaisano-Sebastian, who represents Gaisano Capital SRP Mall in sitio Laray, San Roque, has applied for a barangay clearance to put up a business but the barangay has withheld the issuance of a clearance until the construction of drainage and outlet has been completed by the mall.

Barangay captain Antonio Cabrera Jr. said the applicant has already talked with the heirs of Sotero Abapo, who are the owners of the lot, regarding the construction of a drainage and outlet. 

Sebastian has offered the heirs P500,000 as disturbance fee, or payment to use a portion of the property for the drainage. 

Cabrera said a series of meetings and negotiations with the barangay had transpired but all this came to naught after the heirs demanded P3.5 million as disburtance fee. 

“Despite the efforts to bring the parties into an agreement beneficial to both of them, it failed,” Cabrera said. 

Now Cabrera wants the mayor to get involved. (FREEMAN)