Capitol formally recovers DA lot

CEBU - The Department of Agriculture has formally returned the 62,690 square meter lot that is occupied by its regional office located along M. Velez St., Cebu City to the Cebu provincial government.

Yesterday, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap signed a memorandum of agreement for the recovery of the lot by the Capitol at the plenary hall of the Cebu International Convention Center in Mandaue City.

The signing coincided with the celebration of the farmers’ congress and the launching of the “Go Organic” campaign of the province in which Yap was the guest of honor.

The DA lot is among the properties that the province donated to the national government during the previous administrations.

It was on Sept. 22, 1959 through then governor Jose Briones executed a Deed of Use and Usufruct in favour of Bureau of Animal and Industry for the latter to use the parcel of land, which was then used as an animal breeding station of the agency.

But the BAI was subsequently reorganized and was placed under the DA, which is now the one occupying the property.

When Garcia took the helm at the Capitol, the lady governor wanted to regain possession of all the province-owned properties.

Yap said he did not oppose the move of the province to recover the lot because he believes in the vision of the governor.

He said they will relocate their regional office in DA’s compound in Mandaue City.

Under the agreement, the DA will vacate its regional office starting from the date of the execution until Sept. 22, 2009 while the province will provide assistance to the agency in the transfer of its regional office.

Garcia, in an interview with the reporters, lauded Sec. Yap for not resisting as she compared the DA with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority that refused to vacate the province-owned lot along Archbishop Reyes Avenue.

A civil complaint is now filed in court asking the TESDA to vacate the property. 

Meanwhile, Garcia announced yesterday that with the launching of the Go Organic campaign, the province will now start using organic fertilizers.

The 44 town and seven city mayors have signed a declaration of support that they are going to promote the use of organic farm inputs.

“I am pushing for organic. Kailangan na marunong tayong gumamit ng organic at hindi tayo maging dependent sa inorganic,” Yap said, adding that the agency will be providing more support to organic farming. — Garry B. Lao/WAB (THE FREEMAN)