CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Councilor Pastor Alcover has requested P10 million from the city to pay for the proposed expropriation of a portion of a lot at Beverly Hills Subdivision, Barangay Lahug, following concerns about its road closure that bars non-residents from passing through.
In his privilege speech during the regular session last Wednesday, Alcover said the road from Gate 1 to Gate 2 of the subdivision until that portion along the Taoist Temple is a city-owned road.
“Ang problema lang dira, ang kanang guard house nga gibutang nila dira sa tunga, mao na ang wala nila gi-donate. Mao na ilang gikatarongan nga di nila pasudlon ang publiko, even if ato na siyang dalan,” said Alcover during the discussion.
Last March 15, Alcover also delivered a privilege speech citing the same concern within the roads of Beverly Hills.
It has also motivated Alcover to seek the legal opinion of the Cebu City Legal Office on the possibility of having the lot in question to be expropriated by the city government.
The legal opinion generated last August 9, 2023 stated that lot 1310-C where the guardhouse reportedly stood “whose title is not registered with the city government of Cebu may be expropriated for public purpose.”
“Klaro ug tataw na mamahimo natong i-expropriate ang portion sa Lot 1310-C nganha sa Beverly Hills Subdivision aron ang mga public roads nganha sa sulod niini mapahimuslan sa publiko ug turista ug dili lamang sa pipila ka mga hut-ong sa adunahan,” said Alcover during last Wednesday’s privilege speech.
He added he had personally experienced the concern of having been barred entry in Beverly Hills when he was personally refused access to enter the Gate 1 of the subdivision without presenting his ID first.
While he was able to gain entry at Gate 1 after leaving an ID and then passed through Gate 2 on his way out. On his way back, he was again barred at Gate 2 and was asked for another ID.
Alcover added that at least 3,000 residents at the back of Beverly Hills subdivision are affected with the closure of this road access.
During the discussion, Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera expressed that the purchase of land must be justified so that it will benefit a majority.
“However, in this particular situation, we cannot say that the immediate beneficiaries of that particular road, if ever it would be expropriated, will be urban poor or really in need of assistance from the government, because the immediate beneficiaries are millionaires,” said Pesquera.
Aside from this, tourists who wish to visit the Taoist Temple were also heavily affected.
Alcover said that Beverly Hills reportedly was collecting P1,500 as fee for a sticker that allows people to pass through.
Alcover, however, said that pending the request of the funding allocation, the standing regulations of the road access in the area must still be followed. (CEBU NEWS)