Guv, Rep. del Mar step in UP lot row

CEBU, Philippines - Governor Hilario Davide III and Cebu City North District Rep. Raul del Mar have stepped in to prevent a possible confrontation between the University of the Philippines (UP) – Cebu administration and the informal settlers occupying a portion of a lot owned by UP.

Davide and Del Mar have agreed to act as mediators between the two groups.

“Let’s move forward to the next chapter of this issue with that mediation under the good office of Governor Davide,” said Del Mar.

The UP-Cebu administration earlier installed two huge billboards inside the UP compound announcing to the informal settlers that they should start looking for another place because the lots they are occupying will be used for school expansion projects. There are about 1,000 families presently occupying the UP lots in question.

The informal settlers, however, refused to heed the call of the university administrators, with some even saying that UP has no jurisdiction over the lots they are occupying because these are owned by the provincial government.

But Provincial Legal Officer Orvi Ortega earlier clarified that the Capitol no longer owns any portion of the lot it donated to UP-Cebu, except for a 2,000 square meter strip of land beside the UP-Cebu Dormitory.

Cebu City Councilor Alvin Dizon, who heads the council committee on housing, brokered a meeting between Davide and Del Mar and the representatives of the Lahug Central Homeowners Association (LACHOA) yesterday.

During the meeting, the residents suggested if it was possible for UP to find another place for their school expansion projects, asserting that some of them have been living in the place for the past 50 years.

Del Mar, however, emphasized that there are still considerations and legal points to be resolved, and they want to arrive on a mutually acceptable solution.

For his part, Davide said he will set another meeting with the residents, this time with UP Dean Liza Corro.

“We will see unsay solusyon nga ma-reach,” Davide said.

The governor earlier said he will bring up the possibility of relocating the residents to Corro.  —/QSB (FREEMAN)