CEBU, Philippines - Bando Osmeña Pundok-Kauswagan may be losing more allies after seven barangay captains manifested support for Mayor Michael Rama to sell portions of the South Road Properties.
Just the other day, four city councilors –Gerardo Carillo, Noel Eleuterio Wenceslao, Nestor Archival Sr., Roberto Cabarrubias, Eugenio Gabuya Jr. and Richard Osmeña – pulled out of BOPK after they voted in favor of the resolution that gave Rama the authority to sell 45.2 hectares through a public bidding.
They said they have decided to become independent and will vote as one in crucial matters.
The approval of the resolution drew the ire of former mayor Tomas Osmeña who argued that the council is going against a provision of an ordinance that encourages selling the SRP lots through an unsolicited proposal. This time around, of the 20 barangay captains and two councilmen who supported the sale of SRP, at least seven allied with BOPK are supporting the resolution.
They are Barangay Captains Orlan Herrera (Guba), Maria Velasquez (Pulangbato), Nerissa Antolihao (Budla-an) Zenaida Colina (Bacayan), Manny Pepito (Mabini), Casimiro Pilones (Paril), Winefredo Macario (Sudlon II) Tabunan and councilmen Nerio Pador (Tabunan) and Reynante Bacarisas (Babag).
In effect, BOPK might be left with only 32 barangay chairmen. There are 46 barangays in the city’s north district and 34 in the south district.
“We expressly support Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama’s outlook on the move of the City Council resolution because, undoubtedly, it openly expresses compassionate sentiments for the general welfare of the million Cebuanos in the City of Cebu who deserves more concern and service from the members of the council they voted upon, rather than whatsoever political reasons that will deprive the privilege to enjoy the fruits of SRP,” part of their manifesto reads.
They added that they admire the objectives in of the proceeds of the SRP sale, which are for the construction of the Cebu City Medical Center, traffic system upgrade, road rehabilitation, drainage system improvement, financial assistance, prioritization of infrastructure projects in the mountain barangays of the city.
They also said that they admire the move of the four former BOPK-allied councilors, as well as those who voted in favor of the resolution.
Proposal
As of August, Total (Philippines) Corporation Bright Academy and Play House Children’s Center have expressed intention to lease properties at SRP.
Joey Flordeliza, Area Manager-Retail Development of Total, said the corporation has chosen SRP as site for their petroleum retail outlet.
“We believe that our proposed project will enhance the commercial value of the property and forged a partnership that could assist the City of Cebu on some of the city’s social responsibility program,” Flordeliza said.
Meanwhile, Bright Academy CEO and Chairman Bunny Pages said they would be leasing approximately two hectares for 25 years to “build a sprawling and beautiful campus.”
Pages said they are planning to expand at SRP to cater more students to complement the University of the Philippines-SRP campus collegiate/post-graduate offering.
“Given that SRP will be the future ‘Makati of Cebu’, where businesses and communities will soon flourish, it is important to build a world-class educational institution at the SRP,” the letter-intent reads. — /JMO (FREEMAN)