City, Capitol to finally discuss Ordinance 93-1

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Government and the City of Cebu will sit down together to formulate possible solutions to address the “hugely disparate and contrasting situations” in some areas covered by Provincial Ordinance 93-1.

However, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia declared that the P50 million reportedly offered as a “goodwill deposit” is not among being considered in solving the Ordinance 93-1 issue. 

The National Housing Authority has submitted to the Capitol the result of its socio-economic survey of more than 2,025 households that are actually occupying in province-owned lots in barangays Kalunasan, Busay, Capitol Site and Camputhaw.

“It was really a complete report with pictures of lucrative commercial establishments already set up on certain areas that were supposed to have been apportioned for residential purposes for the urban poor,” Garcia told reporters yesterday.

The report includes the actual profiling of the dwellers, whether or not they were original beneficiaries, absentee beneficiaries or informal settlers already occupying areas that had originally been intended for other persons named in the list of beneficiaries.

“Also on whether or not they in fact belong to the underprivileged and the urban poor of society or they are just privileged to call themselves underprivileged or they have taken upon the privilege to call themselves underprivileged,” she said.

Garcia explained that the report is contrasting in the sense that while it is admitted that there are areas that are in fact truly deser-ving of more liberalize policies because the occupants actually needed more help from government, there are also areas where some probably abused the privileges that should have been accorded only to the underprivileged in accordance with the original intent of 93-1.

The areas being surveyed have a total of 879 lots, the occupants of which are supposed to have one lot each. But the survey showed 2,025 households currently occupying the lots.

Funded by the Office of Vice President Jejomar Binay who heads the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, the NHA was able to identify informal settlers aside from original occupants.

Of the 11 barangays covered by 93-1, only four areas were selected which Garcia said they thought are of the same situation.

Based on the NHA report, Garcia said they have to study further the situation to “delineate those that may qualify under the socialized housing program or those who are just social.”

Garcia said that a representative from the Office of Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama will be invited during the meeting to apprise him of the direction of the province in solving the 93-1 issue.

She stressed that the province recognizes that the office of the mayor can do a great deal to help in arriving a workable solution.

“We are pursuing a direction that we believe would be a workable formula and solution and we will involve the Office of the City Mayor,” Garcia said. (FREEMAN)