EDITORIAL - A reason for businessmen to sidestep Cebu City

Self-styled whistleblower Crisologo Saavedra Jr. is on the offensive again, this time training his guns on the P18-billion mixed-used development that the Cebu City is jointly embarking on with a major land developer.

Saavedra has run to the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas asking the anti-graft body to stop the project, set to rise on what was once Kawit Island at the South Road Properties, saying the deal has been “grossly disadvantageous” to the city.

In his complaint, the businessman claimed that Mayor Tomas Osmeña and his allies at the City Council, in entering into a joint venture with the developer, have violated the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Well, ever since the joint venture was entered into, the Kawit development project has become the subject of a court battle between Osmeña and his Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan allies and the opposition.

Saavedra’s case is just the latest assault on the project, making it one of the city’s most controversial undertakings. But as we begin wading through the crucial phase of the May electoral exercises, we can only expect more legal issues to haunt the project.

We have yet to see the consequences of these cases. But judging from the project’s development – the site has already been fenced and the demolition of existing buildings about to commence – it seems the joint venture is really pushing through.

However, the biggest casualty in this issue is the city itself. Many see that the Kawit project controversy will trigger a serious repercussion since it will only send a negative message that paints the city as having an unfriendly business environment.

This is not to say Saavedra’s complaint is just another form of political harassment because he has never been involved in the politics of the city. But it is certainly another reason for businessmen to sidestep the city.