Davide starts tackling 93-1 issue

CEBU, Philippines - Governor Hilario Davide III has assured the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) that they are looking into the documents pertaining to the issue of properties under the 93-1 ordinance.

Davide said that HUDCC Secretary General Undersecretary Celia Alba and some other officials met with him at the Capitol recently to discuss the matter.

“They just briefed me on what transpired before,” said Davide, specifically on the number of homeowners association that inked a memorandum of agreement with the Provincial Government on the concern of their property.

The HUDCC is led by Vice President Jejomar Binay who has been helping out in solving the issue on Capitol properties and their occupants.

Last year, he was in Cebu to sign the MOU with the Provincial Government led by then Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, assuring that they will resolve the 93-1 property issue.

Properties under Provincial Ordinance 93-1 have been a long concern as to the disposition and sale of the provincial-owned lots to their actual dwellers.

In 1993, the Provincial Board approved Ordinance 93-1 prescribing guidelines on disposing provincial lots to occupants.

“I told them that I’ll take a look at these documents,” he said, adding that there have been homeowners associations as well that have met with him on the matter and have expressed their intention to deal directly with the Provincial Government on the issue.

He said that the homeowners association that met him expressed their willingness to pay for their occupied lots but then aired their main concern, which is the high price of the acquisition of the property.

Davide said he will discuss all aspects of the matter with the provincial attorney and provincial administrator. After which, Davide said he will meet again with the HUDCC officials.

When Cebu city Mayor Michael Rama attended the “Gabii sa Sugbo” event in the Capitol last Wednesday, he mentioned that Vice President Binay wanted to meet with Davide.

Davide said, though, that he was not informed yet of a meeting.  (FREEMAN)