Will the moratorium hold?

The Ciudad developer, the Fifth Avenue Property Corporation, is hell-bent in proceeding with its project after getting the locational clearance and excavation permit from two Cebu City offices.

 The developer is so cocksure in securing the two papers despite the warning of Vice-Mayor Joy Young of the moratorium on any commercial development that would exacerbate the traffic problem of the Banilad-Talamban area. The developer proposed to widen both the IT Park and Camp Lapu-Lapu roads as rear access and exit, without aggravating traffic along the Banilad-Talamban street.

 Incidentally, the Ciudad developer’s proposed two alternate routes would still ultimately join the Balamban-Talamban street from Salinas Drive as most convenient, rather than westward of Salinas Drive. In short, the two alternate routes don’t relieve the busy Ban-Tal highway.

 The moratorium policy of the City Council is, of course, the brainchild of Congressman Tommy Osmeña. This is an off-shoot of Ordinance No. 93-1 imbroglio. It’s a retaliatory move of Cebu City over the problem of Cebu City residents occupying provincial lots that ignited the bitter enmity between Rep. Tommy Osmeña and Governor Gwen Garcia.

 Ironically, what triggered the conflict and raised the hackles of Governor Gwen Garcia was then Vice-Mayor Michael Rama’s assertion over the Ordinance 93-1 impasse, thus: “Maayo nila…modawat na lang sa limpyo.” Amusingly, while Rep. Tommy and Governor Gwen are at loggerheads, Mayor Rama is on now friendly terms with the Lady Governor, both like inseparable tandem.

 Obviously, the developer relies on the official clout of Mayor Mike to facilitate the locational clearance and the excavation permit from the City Planning Office and the Office of the Building Official, respectively. The heads of the two offices under the City Mayor could be put in the wringer.

 Assuming that the City Mayor badly wants the locational clearance and excavation permit be issued, what will be the reaction of the Cebu City Council? The surest guess is the City Council whose members are politically beholden to Congressman Tommy Osmeña, will thumb down the grant of the clearance and permit, no doubt.

 To recall, Vice-Mayor Young speaking for the City Council, is vocal and in sangfroid mood, warning against implementing the Ciudad project. He has asserted that the City Council “will never allow the project to push through,” and that, the developer should not proceed to prevent further losses.”

 Which authority shall the Zoning official and the OBO follow? One foresees that they would follow the City Council. Would the Ciudad developer defy the moratorium policy of the City Council and proceed with its construction even without the locational clearance and the excavation permit?

 The fight shall be between the City Mayor and the City Council. Perhaps, the lady governor and the developer could have anticipated such scenario in securing the locational clearance and the excavation permit. At the back of their minds, they could be impishly forcing the hands of the City Mayor and the City Council into a battle royale… It’s just like saying: “Let’s sound positive that Ciudad will start its project. The locational clearance and the excavation permits are just ploys for the City Hall to fight over, for now”… And, in most likelihood, the dispute could land in court.

Meantime, there’s the proposed 15-storey condominium high-rise building to be built along narrow Sanson Road in Lahug, subject of protest by residents in the area, to affect the Ban-Tal Street traffic problem also.