Rama: Consider plan to sell lots

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama yesterday asked other city officials to consider his plan to sell lots at the South Road Properties (SRP) if it will help generate jobs instead of waiting for a few more years to wait for their value to appreciate.

According to Rama he is willing to sell lots at the SRP as suggested by the Cebu Investment Promotion Center (CIPC) headed by Joel Mari Yu if the would-be buyers will construct business establishments such as call centers.

But Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young, in a separate interview with the reporters, said several city legislators are against Rama’s plan to sell SRP lots now because they are supporting the suggestion of then mayor and now Cebu City South District Rep. Tomas R. Osmeña.

Osmeña explained that if the city will wait until Filinvest Land Incorporated and SM Prime Holdings Corporation can finish their projects worth billions of pesos, the price of the lots at the SRP would become double or even triple.

But Rama yesterday said if the sale would generate jobs to thousands of unemployed city residents his fellow Cebu City officials should reconsider their stand.

The mayor said the statistics showed that the centers in Cebu City are now employing about 56,000 employees.

“Let’s stop talking and let him produce a buyer that will bring thousands of jobs,” Osmeña said in reaction to Rama’s statement.

Osmeña used to be the chairman of the Metro Cebu Development Project (MCDP-3) that implemented the reclamation of the southern part of Cebu City now called the South Road Properties.

SM Prime Holdings had purchased 34 hectares at the SRP worth P2.7 billion in staggered payments, while FLI also bought 10 hectares and entered a joint venture agreement for 40 more hectares.

The city will get 10 per centout of the gross income of FLI from the developed properties placed under the joint venture agreement.

But while several city legislators are against Rama’s plans to sell lots, Vice Mayor Young supports the mayor’s plan to apply for a loan to finance projects.

Among the projects are those that would address the drainage problem in the city’s downtown area and to remove the houses that are constructed in the waterways of the city.

Osmeña said if Rama is really serious on his plan to sell properties at the SRP, he must first secure the concurrence of the Cebu City Council and the Commission on Audit (COA).

No need for council nod

Meanwhile, Rama yesterday insisted that there was no need for him to seek the concurrence of the City Council when he signed the memorandum of commitment to the newly-formed Metro Cebu Development Coordinating Council.

The MCDCC is composed of mayors from Metro Cebu and it is chaired by Governor Gwen Garcia.

But Young insists that the City Council should be informed and to be consulted first about the matter before Rama signed the document as head of the city.

Rama, however, said the law only requires the chief executives to seek the authority of the legislative body if the documents to be signed involve funds or donations.

SRP SECURITY

In another development, City Hall yesterday pulled out the controversial midwife Florence Balungcas as temporary head of the SRP Security Unit after her assignment was strongly criticized by Osmeña.

Security consultant Romeo Cordova designated three security officers Renante Otarra, Aurelio Cabarrubias and Giovannie Surig, as shift supervisors of the SRP security personnel after Balungcas was relieved of her post.

Osmeña and Vice Mayor Young described Balungcas as not fit for the position, because she has no background on security matters compared to Jose Christian Hembra, then head of the SRP security unit, who finished Bachelor of Science in Criminology at the University of the Visayas.

The former mayor got irked after Hembra was relieved by Cordova saying “Christian did a good job securing the SRP for several years.”

Balungcas was reassigned back to the City Hall consultant’s office as one of its clerks. — /NLQ (FREEMAN)