Mike not taking Tom's threat seriously

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama is not taking seriously the threat of south district Representative Tomas Osmeña to sue him and the City Legal Office if the city allows the Capitol to push through with its Ciudad project.

“Naanad na ta anang mga kiha,” Rama told The FREEMAN on Osmeña’s threat.

Osmeña, during his stint as mayor, prevented the construction of the P1.2 billion commercial project in Barangay Banilad.

Osmeña said if Rama and the City Legal Office will allow the Capitol and the Fifth Avenue Development Corporation to push through with the project without solving the traffic problem in Banilad, he will be forced to go to court.

Fifth Avenue Development Corporation is the contractor of the project.

City Legal Officer Joseph Bernaldez had endorsed the project despite the traffic authorities’ claim that construction of additional projects within the Banilad-Talamban area would only add more traffic congestions.

Rama, however, did not say whether he already issued permits for the Ciudad project, only saying that the City Legal Office’s opinion can be considered “sacred” because it represents a public office.

The Fifth Avenue Development Corporation had already applied for permits from the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) but city planning officer Alipio Bacalso is still evaluating the application.

Bacalso told The FREEMAN that the Ciudad developer had already submitted the required documents for the locational clearance.

Once the CPDO issues the locational clearance, the contractor will then secure the construction permit from the Office of the Building Officials.   - (THE FREEMAN)