Tomas: Backing a Gwen VP bid in 2010 depends on “93-1 issue”

Mayor Tomas Osmeña yesterday said he would support a candidacy of Governor Gwen Garcia for vice president in 2010 for as long as the Resolution 93-1 issue is resolved first.

“I want to clarify that there is no way that I will support Gwen if the rift over 93-1 is not resolved,” was Osmeña’s statement on whether he will back Garcia despite his conflict with her over the issue of province-owned lots in the city, under Provincial Board Resolution 93-1.

Osmeña had said earlier that his support for Garcia’s possible bid for a national post in 2010 will depend on her willingness to resolve the 93-1 issue. “Other than that, there is no problem. But as long as it exists and it creates uncertainty among the occupants, it’s hopeless. I’m very firm on that,” he said.

This issue is the only “sore point” between him and the governor, said the mayor adding that the issue could not have arisen if Garcia only agreed to swap the province-owned lots with the city for the benefit of the about 5,000 of the city’s urban poor families occupying these lots.

“How can I support her if it’s tantamount to abandoning my own people?” the mayor said.

The city and provincial officials have already reached a deal, under which the city has offered to give its property at the North Reclamation Area to the Capitol in exchange of the province-owned lots occupied by the city’s urban poor families.

However, when some members of the city council expressed opposition to the deal, saying it will be disadvantageous to the city, the governor dropped the deal and ordered assessment of affected properties.

Later on, the Capitol announced that it is willing to negotiate again but under the “value for value” set up. Then a disappointed Osmeña asked the City Council to freeze the Capitol’s multi-million “Ciudad” project in Banilad.

Claiming she was hurt by the city’s moratorium on the capitol’s project, Garcia retaliated by closing the access road leading to the Fuente Osmeña rotunda from Don Mariano Cui Street in front of Chong Hua Hospital and another road in barangay Apas. These roads are located in the province-owned lots.

Garcia also wants to recover the famous Fuente-Osmeña rotunda Cebu City Zoo in barangay Kalunasan, claiming they are all owned by the province. — Wenna A. Berondo/RAE